Compositions and methods for treatment and imaging using nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

The present invention encompasses compositions comprising two spectrally distinct radionuclides separated by a site susceptible to cleavage. Compositions of the invention may be used to detect enzyme activity and/or image diseases associated with said enzyme activity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No.62/009,481, filed Jun. 9, 2014 and U.S. provisional application No.62/137,628, filed Mar. 24, 2015, each of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses compositions comprising two spectrallydistinct radionuclides separated by a site susceptible to cleavage.Compositions of the invention may be used to detect enzyme activityand/or image diseases associated with said enzyme activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Imaging agents that activate under specific conditions, for exampleunder low pH or in the presence of an enzyme, have the ability toprovide molecular, biological, and physiologically specific contrast.Most often, these activatable probes are optical in nature, wherein anemitter is linked with a quencher by a cleavable domain. This hasallowed for the characterization and imaging of not just binding events,but other biological processes such as enzyme activity. The activatableoptical contrast agents, however, are hampered by their poor tissuepenetration, which has limited their clinical translatability in manyareas. Therefore, a nuclear activatable alternative is highly desired inorder to fulfill the promise of this class of imaging agent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect, the present invention encompasses a composition. Thecomposition comprises a cleavable peptide and two distinctradionuclides, wherein the radionuclides are separated by a sitesusceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can be spectrallydifferentiated.

In another aspect, the present invention encompasses a method ofdetecting enzyme activity associated with a disease or condition in asubject. The method comprises (a) administering to the subject aneffective amount of a composition comprising: a cleavable peptide and afirst and second radionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclideare separated by a site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can bespectrally differentiated; (b) imaging the subject for a signalcorresponding to the first and second radionuclide; and (c) comparingthe biodistribution of the first radionuclide to the biodistribution ofthe first radionuclide, wherein when the biodistribution for the firstradionuclide differs from the biodistribution for the secondradionuclide, enzyme activity is detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The application file contains at least one drawing executed in color.Copies of this patent application publication with color drawing(s) willbe provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic of the synthesis of the dual-radiolabelednanoparticle-based SPECT probes.

FIG. 2 depicts in vivo spectroscopic SPECT/CT imaging after intravenousinjection with dual-radiolabeled nanoparticles. X-ray CT coregisteredwith (a) 200±60 keV energy channel that detects ¹¹¹In, (b) 28±3 keVenergy channel that detects ¹²⁵I emission, and (c) both energy channels.

FIG. 3 depicts tumor imaging with dual-radiolabeled nanoparticles.SPECT/CT images of mice with bilateral (a) A431 and (b) 4T1Luc tumors 48hours after intravenous injection. (c) Tumor standardized uptake values(SUVs) of ¹¹¹In over the 48 hours following injection.

FIG. 4 depicts an image of gold nanoparticle suspensions afterincubation with the synthesized peptide both (left) without and (right)with the addition of mPEG-SH (MW5000). The red color associated with thesurface plasmon resonance of a well-dispersed suspension was onlypreserved with addition of PEG.

FIG. 5 depicts a graphical quantification of MMP9 activity with themultifunctional nanoparticle (NP). The bars represent the percent oftotal activity that was found in the supernatant solution after 1.5 hourincubation with MMP9.

FIG. 6 depicts graphs illustrating the results of high performanceliquid chromatography of supernatant solutions after incubation of⁶⁴Cu-labeled nanoparticles (a) with MMP9 or (b) without MMP9.

FIG. 7 depicts imaging results from a SPECT phantom study withdual-radiolabeled nanoparticles (bottom right), along with ¹¹¹In control(bottom left) and ¹²⁵I control. X-ray CT of vials along with (leftpanel) 200 keV energy SPECT channel, (middle panel) 28 keV energy SPECTchannel, and (right panel) merged energy SPECT channels.

FIG. 8 depicts SPECT/CT imaging of mice 4 hours after injection with thedual-radiolabeled nanoparticles. X-ray CT can be seen with (left panel)200 keV SPECT channel, (middle panel) 28 keV SPECT channel, and (rightpanel) merged energy SPECT channels.

FIG. 9 depicts a western blot for MMP-9 of (1) 4T1Luc and (2) A431 cellsused to grow in vivo tumors.

FIG. 10 depicts SPECT/CT imaging of (a) A431 tumor-bearing and (b)4T1Luc-tumor bearing mice 24 hours after injection using the 200 keVenergy channel.

FIG. 11 depicts graphs of biodistribution from mice sacrificed after the48 hour imaging time point.

FIG. 12 depicts a schematic of the synthesis of ¹⁹⁹Au-containing goldnanocrystals (199Au NCs).

FIG. 13 depicts imaging from the longs of mice intratracheally injectedwith ¹⁹⁹Au gold and ¹²⁵Au-labeled gold nanoparticle constructs imagedimmediately, 3 hours post-injection, and 24 hours post-injection.

FIG. 14 depicts a schematic of ¹¹¹In-labeled ¹⁹⁹Au-doped goldnanocrystals.

FIG. 15 depicts phantom SPECT imaging.

FIG. 16 depicts ratiometric lung imaging of activation in the lungimmediately post-injection and 96 hours post-injection and a graphdepicting standardized uptake values in the lungs.

FIG. 17 depicts ratiometric imaging of the lungs of mice injected withdual-labeled nanocrystals that had been incubated with MMP9,

FIG. 18 depicts activation by MMP9 in the kidney, lung, and bladder byratiometric imaging of mice immediately post-injection, 5 hourspost-injection, and 24 hours post-injection (A), a graph quantifying thepost-injection ratios (B), a graph quantifying ratios 5 hourspost-injection (C), and a graph quantifying ratios 24 hourspost-injection (D).

FIG. 19 depicts structures of LS370 (SEQ ID NO:5) (a) and LS734 (SEQ IDNO:6) (b).

FIG. 20 depicts images of vials containing either ¹²⁵I or ¹¹¹In scannedwith SPECT/CT. Raw (a,b) and unmixed (c,d) images were constructed fromsignals collected in two energy windows (20-40 keV and 170-250 keV).

FIG. 21 depicts a radiochromatogram of [¹²⁵I]LS370 hydrolysis bycaspase-3 (90 min). The [¹²⁵I]LS370 eluted at 19.5 min. Cleavedfragments eluted at 12.5 and 13 min.

FIG. 22 depicts cell-uptake of [¹²⁵I]LS370 and [¹²⁵I]LS734 after 2 hincubation in the presence and absence of treatment (a) and depicts theefflux profile of [¹²⁵I]LS734 (b).

FIG. 23 depicts tissue bio-distribution of [¹²⁵I]LS370 and [¹²⁵I]LS734 1h after administration of 4-7 μCi of the respective radiopharmaceutical.

FIG. 24 depicts SPECT-CT images (single slice) after unmixing for highenergy window for ¹¹¹In detection (170-250 keV) and for low energywindow consisting of primarily ¹²⁵I activity (20-40 keV), collected at 4h after injection of [¹¹¹In]-[¹²⁵I]LS734. (a,b)¹¹¹In window: higheractivity was detected in the treated tumor (T) than the saline controltreated tumor (C). The kidneys (K) had highest signal followed by theliver (L) indicating fast clearance of the ¹¹¹In labeled probe andfragments. (c,d)¹²⁵I window: activity was detected in both tumors,presumably preferential retention of the lipophilic fragment althoughactivity gastrointestinal tract (GI) and thyroid glands indicatespartial physiological deiodination, most likely a function of normal aswell as tumor mediated. Therefore, reported SUV values for ¹²⁵I includepeptide-bound and free fractions. High activity in the liver and GIindicates hepatobiliary clearance of the lipophilic ¹²⁵I fragments.

FIG. 25 depicts decay counts of ¹²⁵I and ^(99m)Tc in LS370.

FIG. 26 depicts tissue bio-distribution of ¹²⁵I-LS370 and ¹²⁵I-LS734 intumor naïve Balb/c mice after 1 h of administration of 4-7 μCi of therespective radiopharmaceutical.

FIG. 27 depicts biodistribution analysis for ¹²⁵I and ¹¹¹In fragments ofLS734 in mouse tissues 4 h after intravenous injection. The 30 keVsignal is mixture of ¹²⁵I and ¹¹¹In decay and demonstrates significantdifference in biodistribution from the ¹¹¹In individual signal about 200keV.

FIG. 28 depicts the ratio of the mean ROI value and the reference meanROI value vs the scan duration (counting statistics) with variousreconstruction options. The standard number of iterations (9) andstandard pixel size (0.3 mm) were used in the reconstruction for alllow, medium, and high background corrections (i.e. LSS, MSS, HSScorresponding to Low, Medium and High background correction for Standardnumber of iteration (9) and Standard pixel size 0.3 mm), and the BC, SP,and SV options were separately applied to the MSS reconstruction.

FIG. 29 depicts the coefficient of variation (STD/mean) for the ROIvalues vs the scan duration (counting statistics) with variousreconstruction options; the standard number of iterations (9) andstandard pixel size (0.3 mm) were used in the reconstruction for alllow, medium, and high background corrections (i.e. LSS, MSS, HSS), andthe BC, SP, and SV options were separately applied to the MSSreconstruction.

FIG. 30 depicts the radio-HPLC chromatogram of ¹²⁵I-LS734 at twodifferent time points. The radio-HPLC-QC trace obtained right after thepurification of the iodinated product (LS734). The sample was stored inPBS for up to 48 h (a). The radio-HPLC-QC trace obtained at 48 h (b).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radionuclide pairshaving distinct decay rates and different energy maxima enablesimultaneous detection of dual gamma signals and real-time assessment ofdynamic functional and molecular processes in vivo. Disclosed herein isa molecular framework for developing and using dual radionuclide-labeledimaging agents for the molecular imaging of aberrant intracellular orextracellular proteases. The compositions disclosed herein may be usedto determine enzyme activity and ultimately therapeutic response whichcan help identify nonresponders at early time points, giving anopportunity to apply an alternative and potentially more effectivetreatment. The inventors have shown that cleavable peptides may beradiolabeled with different radionuclides, specifically dual SPECTisotopes, ¹²⁵I with ^(99m)Tc or ¹¹¹In. Results demonstrate the potentialof using multiradionuclide-resolving power of clinically useful SPECTfor noninvasively monitoring treatment response.

I. Composition

In an aspect, the present invention encompasses a compositioncomprising: a cleavable peptide and two distinct radionuclides, whereinthe radionuclides are separated by a site susceptible to cleavage by anenzyme and can be spectrally differentiated.

In another aspect, the present invention encompasses a compositioncomprising: a nanoparticle, a cleavable peptide and two distinctradionuclides, wherein the radionuclides are separated by a sitesusceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can be spectrallydifferentiated. In certain embodiments, the radionuclides are bothconjugated to the cleavable peptide on either side of the sitesusceptible to cleavage by an enzyme. In other embodiments, thenanoparticle comprises a radionuclide and the cleavable peptidecomprises a radionuclide, such that cleavage of the peptide releases theradionuclide conjugated to the peptide.

(a) Cleavable Peptide

The present disclosure encompasses cleavable peptides. By “peptide” ismeant an amino acid sequence that includes 5 or more amino acidresidues. “Peptide” refers to both short chains, commonly referred to aspeptides, oligopeptides, or oligomers, and to longer chains, up to about100 residues in length. A peptide may comprise about 5 or more aminoacids. For example, a peptide may comprise about 5 or more, about 10 ormore, about 15 or more, about 20 or more, about 25 or more, about 30 ormore, about 35 or more, about 40 or more, about 45 or more, about 50 ormore, about 55 or more, about 60 or more, about 65 or more, about 70 ormore, about 75 or more, about 80 or more, about 85 or more, about 90 ormore, about 95 or more, or about 100 or more amino acids. In certainembodiments, a peptide may comprise 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 amino acids. In anembodiment, a peptide may comprise about 5 to about 10 amino acids. Inother embodiments, a peptide may comprise from about 10 to about 20amino acids. In a different embodiment, a peptide may comprise fromabout 20 to about 25 amino acids. In still other embodiments, a peptidemay comprise from about 10 to about 15 amino acids. In yet otherembodiments, a peptide may comprise from about 15 to about 20 aminoacids. In a specific embodiment, a peptide may comprise about 13 aminoacids. In another specific embodiment, a peptide may comprise about 9amino acids. In still another specific embodiment, a peptide maycomprise about 21 amino acids.

A peptide may comprise a positively charged or hydrophilic amino acidsequence and/or a hydrophobic amino acid sequence. Without wishing to bebound by theory, positively charged or hydrophilic amino acids mayenhance internalization of the peptide. In a specific embodiment, apeptide may comprise a hydrophilic amino acid sequence and a hydrophobicamino acid sequence separated by a site susceptible to cleavage.Non-limiting examples of positively charged amino acids includearginine, lysine and ornithine. Non-limiting examples of hydrophobicamino acids include alanine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine,proline, glycine and aminocaproic acid. In a specific embodiment, ahydrophilic amino acid sequence may comprise SEQ ID NO:3(Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys). In another specificembodiment, a hydrophobic amino acid sequence may comprise SEQ ID NO:4(Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala).

A “cleavable peptide” as used herein is a peptide that comprises a sitesusceptible to cleavage by an enzyme. In specific embodiments, theenzyme is an enzyme that is associated with a disease or condition. Insome embodiments the disease or condition is cancer, cardiovasculardisease, arthritis, viral, bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection,Alzheimer's disease, emphysema, thrombosis, hemophilia, stroke, organdysfunction, any inflammatory condition, vascular disease, parenchymaldisease, or a pharmacologically-induced state. Non-limiting examples ofsites susceptible to cleavage include a MMP sensitive site, acaspase-sensitive site, a kallikrein sensitive site, a cathepsinsensitive site, a plasminogen activator sensitive site and/or an ADAMsensitive site. In certain embodiments, the cleavable peptide comprisesa caspase-sensitive site. Caspases, or cysteine-aspartic proteases orcysteine-dependent aspartate-directed proteases, are a family ofcysteine proteases that play essential roles in apoptosis (programmedcell death), necrosis, and inflammation. There are two types ofapoptotic caspases: initiator (apical) caspases and effector(executioner) caspases. Initiator caspases (e.g., caspase-2, caspase-8,caspase-9, and caspase-10) cleave inactive pro-forms of effectorcaspases, thereby activating them. Effector caspases (e.g., caspase-3,caspase-6, caspase-7) in turn cleave other protein substrates within thecell, to trigger the apoptotic process. In a specific embodiment, thecleavable peptide comprises a caspase-3 or caspase-7 sensitive site. Thecaspase-sensitive site may comprise SEQ ID NO:2 (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp). Incertain embodiments, the cleavable peptide comprises a MMP sensitivesite. MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) are zinc-dependent endopeptidasescapable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, butalso can process a number of bioactive molecules. MMPs are known to beinvolved in the cleavage of cell surface receptors, the release ofapoptotic ligands (such as the FAS ligand), and chemokine/cytokineinactivation. MMPs are also thought to play a major role on cellbehaviors such as cell proliferation, migration (adhesion/dispersion),differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and host defense. MMPs may beclassified based on their functional activity. Non-limiting examples ofsuitable MMPs for which a sensitive site may be designed includecollagenases (MMP1, MMP8, MMP13), matrilysin (MMP7, MMP26),metalloelastase (MMP12), gelatinases (MMP2, MMP9), enamelysin (MMP20),stromelysins (MMP3, MMP10, MMP11), membrane-type MMPs (MMP14, MMP15,MMP16, MMP17, MMP24, MMP25), and other (MMP19, MMP21, MMP23A, MMP23B,MMP27, MMP28). In an exemplary embodiment, the cleavable peptidecomprises a MMP9 sensitive site. In another exemplary embodiment, thecleavable peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:1(Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys).

A peptide of the invention may be subject to various changes,substitutions, insertions, and deletions where such changes provide forcertain advantages in its use. Thus, the invention encompasses any of avariety of forms of peptide derivatives that include amides, conjugateswith proteins, cyclized peptides, polymerized peptides, conservativelysubstituted variants, analogs, fragments, peptoids, chemically modifiedpeptides, peptide mimetics, and replacement of Adenoviral knob (See, forexample, Mathis et al., Oncogene 2005; 24:7775-7791).

Peptides of the invention may comprise naturally occurring amino acids,synthetic amino acids, genetically encoded amino acids, non-geneticallyencoded amino acids, and combinations thereof. Peptides may include bothL-form and D-form amino acids.

Representative non-genetically encoded amino acids may include but arenot limited to 2-aminoadipic acid; 3-aminoadipic acid; β-aminopropionicacid; 2-aminobutyric acid; 4-aminobutyric acid (piperidinic acid);6-aminocaproic acid (Ahx); 2-aminoheptanoic acid; 2-aminoisobutyricacid; 3-aminoisobutyric acid; 2-aminopimelic acid; 2,4-diaminobutyricacid; desmosine; 2,2′-diaminopimelic acid; 2,3-diaminopropionic acid;N-ethylglycine; N-ethylasparagine; hydroxylysine; allo-hydroxylysine;3-hydroxyproline; 4-hydroxyproline; isodesmosine; allo-isoleucine;N-methylglycine (sarcosine); N-methylisoleucine; N-methylvaline;norvaline; norleucine; and ornithine.

Representative derivatized amino acids may include for example, thosemolecules in which free amino groups have been derivatized to form aminehydrochlorides, p-toluene sulfonyl groups, carbobenzoxy groups,t-butyloxycarbonyl groups, chloroacetyl groups or formyl groups. Freecarboxyl groups can be derivatized to form salts, methyl and ethylesters or other types of esters or hydrazides. Free hydroxyl groups canbe derivatized to form O-acyl or O-alkyl derivatives. The imidazolenitrogen of histidine can be derivatized to form N-im-benzylhistidine.

The term “conservatively substituted variant” refers to a peptidecomprising an amino acid residue sequence similar to a sequence of areference peptide in which one or more residues have been conservativelysubstituted with a functionally similar residue and which displays theactivity as described herein. The phrase “conservatively substitutedvariant” also includes peptides wherein a residue is replaced with achemically derivatized residue, provided that the resulting peptidedisplays activity as disclosed herein.

Examples of conservative substitutions include the substitution of onenon-polar (hydrophobic) residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine ormethionine for another; the substitution of one polar (hydrophilic)residue for another such as between arginine and lysine, betweenglutamine and asparagine, between glycine and serine; the substitutionof one basic residue such as lysine, arginine or histidine for another;or the substitution of one acidic residue, such as aspartic acid orglutamic acid for another.

Peptides of the present invention also include peptides comprising oneor more additions and/or deletions or residues relative to the sequenceof a peptide whose sequence is disclosed herein, so long as therequisite activity of the peptide is maintained. The term “fragment”refers to a peptide comprising an amino acid residue sequence shorterthan that of a peptide disclosed herein.

In addition, a peptide can be modified by terminal-NH₂ acylation (e.g.,acetylation, or thioglycolic acid amidation) or byterminal-carboxylamidation (e.g., with ammonia, methylamine, and thelike terminal modifications). Terminal modifications are useful, as iswell known, to reduce susceptibility by proteinase digestion, andtherefore serve to prolong half life of the peptides in solutions,particularly biological fluids where proteases can be present. In aspecific embodiment, a peptide comprises a terminal-NH₂ acylation. Incertain embodiment, the terminal-NH₂ acylation is acetylation.

The term “peptoid” as used herein refers to a peptide wherein one ormore of the peptide bonds are replaced by pseudopeptide bonds includingbut not limited to a carba bond (CH₂—CH₂), a depsi bond (CO—O), ahydroxyethylene bond (CHOH—CH₂), a ketomethylene bond (CO—CH₂), amethylene-oxy bond (CH₂—O), a reduced bond (CH₂—NH), a thiomethylenebond (CH₂—S), a thiopeptide bond (CS—NH), and an N-modified bond(—NRCO—). See e.g. Corringer et al. (1993) J Med Chem 36:166-172;Garbay-Jauregiuberry et al. (1992) Int J Pept Protein Res 39:523-527;Tung et al. (1992) Pept Res 5:115-118; Urge et al. (1992) Carbohydr Res235:83-93; Pavone et al. (1993) Int J Pept Protein Res 41:15-20.

Peptides of the present invention, including peptoids, may besynthesized by any of the techniques that are known to those skilled inthe art of peptide synthesis. Synthetic chemistry techniques, such as asolid-phase Merrifield-type synthesis, may be preferred for reasons ofpurity, antigenic specificity, freedom from undesired side products,ease of production and the like. A summary of representative techniquescan be found in Stewart & Young (1969) Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis.Freeman, San Francisco; Merrifield (1969) Adv Enzymol Relat Areas MolBiol 32:221-296; Fields & Noble (1990) Int J Pept Protein Res35:161-214; and Bodanszky (1993) Principles of Peptide Synthesis. 2ndrev. ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin; New York. Solid phase synthesistechniques can be found in Andersson et al. (2000) Biopolymers55:227-250, references cited therein, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,015,561,6,015,881, 6,031,071, and 4,244,946. Peptide synthesis in solution isdescribed by Schröder & Lübke (1965) The Peptides. Academic Press, NewYork. Appropriate protective groups usable in such synthesis aredescribed in the above texts and in McOmie (1973) Protective Groups inOrganic Chemistry. Plenum Press, London, New York. Peptides that includenaturally occurring amino acids can also be produced using recombinantDNA technology. In addition, peptides comprising a specified amino acidsequence can be purchased from commercial sources (e.g., Biopeptide Co.,LLC of San Diego, Calif. and PeptidoGenics of Livermore, Calif.).

Any peptide or peptide mimetic of the present invention may be used inthe form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Suitable acids which arecapable of forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt with the peptidesof the present invention include inorganic acids such as trifluoroaceticacid (TFA), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrobromic acid, perchloric acid,nitric acid, thiocyanic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acetic acid,propionic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid,malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, anthranilicacid, cinnamic acid, naphthalene sulfonic acid, sulfanilic acid or thelike.

Suitable bases capable of forming salts with the peptides of the presentinvention include inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide, ammoniumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide and the like; and organic bases such asmono-di- and tri-alkyl and aryl amines (e.g. triethylamine, diisopropylamine, methyl amine, dimethyl amine and the like), and optionallysubstituted ethanolamines (e.g. ethanolamine, diethanolamine and thelike).

(i) Chelating Agent

A cleavable peptide of the invention may be coupled to a chelatingagent. The chelating agent may be directly coupled to the peptide or maybe coupled to a linker that is coupled to the peptide. As used herein, a“chelating agent” is a molecule that forms multiple chemical bonds witha single metal atom. Prior to forming the bonds, the chelating agent hasmore than one pair of unshared electrons. The bonds are formed bysharing pairs of electrons with the metal atom.

Examples of chelating agents include, but are not limited to,iminodicarboxylic and polyaminopolycarboxylic reactive groups,diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA),1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA),tetramethyl heptanedionate (TMHD), 2,4-pentanedione,ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA),ethyleneglycol-O,O′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA),N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid trisodium salt(HEDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (TETA),deferoxamine (DFO), and derivatives thereof. In a specific embodiment,the chelating agent is diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Inanother specific embodiment, the chelating agent is1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA).

Chelating agents may be attached to a cleavable peptide of theinvention, using the methods generally described in Liu et al.,Bioconjugate Chew. 12(4):653, 2001; Alter et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,753,627; and PCT Publication No. WO 91/01144; each of which is herebyincorporated by reference. A cleavable peptide of the invention may becoupled to a chelating agent by reacting the free carboxyl group of theC-terminal residue of the peptide with an appropriate functional groupof the chelator. For example, a peptide may be coupled to the chelator1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), commonin the art of coordination chemistry. Alternatively, a cleavable peptideof the invention may be coupled to a chelating agent by reacting thefree amino group of the N-terminal residue of the peptide with anappropriate functional group of the chelator, such as a carboxyl groupor activated ester. For example, a peptide may be coupled to thechelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), common in the art ofcoordination chemistry, when functionalized with a carboxyl substituenton the ethylene chain. Synthesis of EDTA derivatives of this type arereported in Arya et al., (Bioconjugate Chemistry. 2:323, 1991), whereinthe four coordinating carboxyl groups are each blocked with a t-butylgroup while the carboxyl substituent on the ethylene chain is free toreact with the amino group of the peptide thereby forming a conjugate.

A cleavable peptide of the invention may be coupled to a metal chelatorcomponent that is peptidic, i.e., compatible with solid-phase peptidesynthesis. In this case, the chelator may be coupled to the cleavablepeptide of the invention in the same manner as DTPA or DOTA describedabove or more conveniently the chelator and agent are synthesized intato starting from the C-terminal or N-terminal residue of the peptideand ending with the N-terminal or C-terminal residue of the chelator.

A cleavable peptide of the invention may be complexed, through itsattached chelating agent, to a radionuclide, thereby resulting in apeptide that is indirectly labeled. A radionuclide is described in moredetail below.

(ii) Radionuclide

A cleavable peptide of the invention may further comprise at least oneradionuclide. In certain embodiments, a cleavable peptide comprises oneradionuclide. In other embodiments, a cleavable peptide comprises tworadionuclides. In still other embodiments, a cleavable peptide maycomprise more than two radionuclides.

In the embodiment where the cleavable peptide comprises tworadionuclides, spectrally distinct radionuclides are conjugated oneither side of the site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme. Aradionuclide may be conjugated to the cleavable peptide via tyrosineresidue, a chelating agent, and/or a Lys-Gly-Cys group. In anembodiment, one radionuclide may be conjugated to the peptide via atyrosine residue and one radionuclide may be complexed to the peptidevia a chelating agent. In another embodiment, one radionuclide may beconjugated to the peptide via a tyrosine residue and one radionuclidemay be conjugated to the peptide via a Lys-Gly-Cys group. In stillanother embodiment, one radionuclide may be conjugated to theradionuclide via a chelating agent and another radionuclide may beconjugated to the peptide via a Lys-Gly-Cys group. The cleavable peptidecomprising two radionuclides may be further conjugated to a particle. Aparticle is described in more detail in Section I(b) below.

In the embodiment where a cleavable peptide comprises one radionuclide,the cleavable peptide may be further conjugated to a particle comprisinga spectrally distinct radionuclide. A particle comprising a radionuclideis described in more detail in Section I(b) below. In the foregoingembodiment, cleavage of the peptide releases the radionuclide from theparticle. A radionuclide may be conjugated to the cleavable peptide viatyrosine residue, a chelating agent, or a Lys-Gly-Cys group. In anembodiment, the radionuclide may be complexed to the peptide via achelating agent. In another embodiment, the radionuclide may beconjugated to the peptide via a tyrosine residue. In still anotherembodiment, radionuclide may be conjugated to the peptide via aLys-Gly-Cys group. In a specific embodiment, a cleavable peptide isconjugated to a particle via a cysteine residue. In another specificembodiment, a cleavable peptide is conjugated to a particle via apolyethylene glycol that is conjugated to the particle.

A radionuclide may be a γ-emitting radionuclide, Auger-emittingradionuclide, β-emitting radionuclide, an α-emitting radionuclide, or apositron-emitting radionuclide. A radionuclide may also be a therapeuticagent. A radionuclide employed in the present invention may be aradionuclide that decays via β⁺ decay such as ¹⁰C, ¹¹C, ¹³O, ¹⁴O, ¹⁵O,¹²N, ¹³N, ¹⁵F, ¹⁸F, ¹⁸F-FDG, ³²Cl, ³³Cl, ³⁴Cl, ⁴³Sc, ⁴⁴Sc, ⁴⁵Ti, ⁵¹Min,⁵²Mn, ⁵²Fe, ⁵³Fe, ⁵⁵Co, ⁵⁶Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁶¹Cu, ⁶²Cu, ⁶²Zn, ⁶³Zn, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁵Zn,⁶⁶Ga, ⁶⁶Ge, ⁶⁷Ge, ⁶⁸Ga, ⁶⁹Ge, ⁶⁹As, ⁷⁰As, ⁷⁰Se, ⁷¹As, ⁷³Se, ⁷⁴Kr, ⁷⁴Br,⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ⁷⁷Br, ⁷⁷Kr, ⁷⁸Br, ⁷⁸Rb, ⁷⁹Rb, ⁷⁹Kr, ⁸¹Rb, ⁸²Rb, ⁸⁴Rb, ⁸⁴Zr,⁸⁵Y, ⁸⁶Y, ⁸⁷Y, ⁸⁷Zr, ⁸⁸Y, ⁸⁹Zr, ⁹²Tc, ⁹³Tc, ⁹⁴Tc, ⁹⁵Tc, ⁹⁵Ru, ⁹⁵Rh,⁹⁶Rh⁹⁷Rh, ⁹⁸Rh, ⁹⁹Rh, ¹⁰⁰Rh, ¹⁰¹Ag, ¹⁰²Ag, ¹⁰²Rh, ¹⁰³Ag, ¹⁰⁴Ag, ¹⁰⁵Ag,¹⁰⁶Ag, ¹⁰⁸In, ¹⁰⁹In, ¹¹⁰In, ¹¹⁵Sb, ¹¹⁶Sb, ¹¹⁷Sb, ¹¹⁵Te, ¹¹⁶Te, ¹¹⁷Te,¹¹⁷I, ¹¹⁸I, ¹¹⁸Xe, ¹¹⁹Xe, ¹¹⁹I, ¹¹⁹Te, ¹²⁰I, ¹²⁰Xe, ¹²¹Xe, ¹²¹I, ¹²²I,¹²³Xe, ¹²⁴I, ¹²⁶I, ¹²⁸I, ¹²⁹La, ¹³⁰La, ¹³¹La, ¹³²La, ¹³³La, ¹³⁵La,¹³⁶La, ¹⁴⁰Sm, ¹⁴¹Sm, ¹⁴²Sm, ¹⁴⁴Gd, ¹⁴⁵Gd, ¹⁴⁵Eu, ¹⁴⁶Gd, ¹⁴⁶Eu, ¹⁴⁷Eu,¹⁴⁷Gd, ¹⁴⁸Eu, ¹⁵⁰Eu, ¹⁹⁰Au, ¹⁹¹Au, ¹⁹²Au, ¹⁹³Au, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹⁹⁹Au, ¹⁹³Tl,¹⁹⁴Tl, ¹⁹⁴Au, ¹⁹⁵Tl, ¹⁹⁶Tl, ¹⁹⁷Tl, ¹⁹⁸Tl, ²⁰⁰Tl, ²⁰⁰Bi, ²⁰²Bi, ²⁰³Bi,²⁰⁵Bi or ²⁰⁶Bi, a radionuclide that decays via β⁻ decay such as ³H, ¹⁴C,³⁵S, ³²P, ¹³¹I, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Sr, ⁹⁰Y, ⁹⁹Mo, ¹³³Xe, ¹³⁷Cs,¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁷⁷Lu or ¹⁸⁶Re, or a radionuclide that decays via electroncapture such as ¹¹¹In, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I, ²⁰¹Tl, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁶²Znor ⁸²Sr. Most specifically, it may be ¹⁸F, ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ⁶⁰Cu, ⁶⁴Cu,⁶⁷Cu, ¹²⁴I, ⁶⁸Ga, ⁵²Fe, ⁵⁸Co, ³H, ¹⁴C, ³⁵S, ³²P, ¹³¹I, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁸⁹Sr,⁹⁰Sr, ⁹⁰Y, ⁹⁹Mo, ¹³³Xe, ¹³⁷Cs, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I, ²⁰¹Ti or⁶⁷Ga, but is not limited thereto. Since other radionuclides that do notdecay via β⁺, β⁻ or electron capture can also emit light, they may alsobe used as the radionuclide of the present disclosure. In certainembodiments, a radionuclide may be selected from the group consisting of¹¹¹In, ¹²⁵I, ⁶⁴Cu, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹⁹⁹Au, ^(99m)Tc, and ¹²³I. In a specificembodiment, a radionuclide may be selected from the group consisting of¹¹¹In, ¹²⁵I, ⁶⁴Cu, ¹⁹⁸Au, and ¹⁹⁹Au.

A first radionuclide and a second radionuclide are incorporated into acomposition as described above provided they are spectrally distinct. Byspectrally distinct is meant that they can be spectrally differentiatedupon imaging. In a specific embodiment, gamma rays of the first andsecond radionuclide have minimal overlapping signal in the acceptanceenergy window for SPECT imaging. However, this is not always possible,thus use of radionuclides with an overlapping signal may be used. Insuch an embodiment, the overlap is removed in a quantifiable andreproducible manner. For example, this may be done via methods describedin Example 6 and the Methods for Examples 4-10. In a specificembodiment, a first radionuclide is ¹²⁵I and a second radionuclide is⁶⁴Cu or ¹¹¹In. In another specific embodiment, a first radionuclide is¹⁹⁹Au and a second radionuclide is ¹¹¹In. In still another specificembodiment, a first radionuclide is ²⁵I and a second radionuclide is^(99m)Tc.

As described above, a radionuclide may be conjugated directly to apeptide without the use of a chelating agent. For example, a radioactiveiodine label (e.g., ¹²²I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ¹²⁵I, or ¹³¹I) is capable of beingconjugated to each D- or L-Tyr or D- or L-4-amino-Phe residue present ina peptide of the invention. In an embodiment, a tyrosine residue of apeptide of the invention may be halogenated. Halogens include fluorine,chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Such halogenated peptides ofthe invention may be detectably labeled if the halogen is aradioisotope, such as, for example, ¹⁸F, ⁷⁸Br, ⁷⁷Br, ¹²²I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I,¹²⁵I, ¹²⁹I, ¹³¹I, ²¹¹At. Halogenated peptides of the invention contain ahalogen covalently bound to at least one amino acid, and preferably toD-Tyr residues present in the peptide. Alternatively, ^(99m)Tc label iscapable of being conjugated to a -Lys-Gly-Cys- group. As such, a peptideof the invention may comprise a -Lys-Gly-Cys- group for ^(99m)Tclabeling.

(iii) Polyethylene Glycol

A cleavable peptide of the invention may comprise polyethylene glycol(PEG). The PEG may be conjugated directly to the peptide via functionalgroup or the PEG may be conjugated to the peptide via a linker. Anysuitable linker to conjugate PEG to a peptide may be used. For example,a linker may be a peptide linker, an alkyl linker, a non-cleavablelinker, or a combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, the linkermay be a DBCO-maleimide linker. Any suitable PEG may be used in apeptide of the invention. PEGs are available in a range of molecularweights from 300 g/mol to Ser. No. 10/000,000 g/mol. A PEG suitable in apeptide of the invention may be from about 1,000 g/mol to about 20,000g/mol. Alternatively, a PEG suitable in a peptide of the invention maybe from about 1,000 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol. In another embodiment,a PEG suitable in a peptide of the invention may be from about 5,000g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol. In a specific embodiment, a PEG suitable ina peptide of the invention may be 5,000 g/mol.

(iv) Specific Embodiments

In a specific embodiment, a peptide comprises a caspase-3 sensitivesite, a tyrosine for radiolabeling and a -Lys-Gly-Cys- group forradiolabeling. In another specific embodiment, a peptide comprises acaspase-3 sensitive site, a tyrosine for conjugation to ¹²⁵I and a-Lys-Gly-Cys- group for conjugation to ^(99m)Tc. In still anotherspecific embodiment, a peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:2 (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp),a tyrosine for radiolabeling and a -Lys-Gly-Cys- group forradiolabeling. In yet still another specific embodiment, a peptidecomprises SEQ ID NO:5 (Ahx-Tyr-Ahx-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Lys-Gly-Cys). Incertain embodiments, the peptide comprises a terminal-NH₂ acylation.Specifically, the terminal-NH₂ acylation is acetylation.

In a different specific embodiment, a peptide comprises a caspase-3sensitive site, a tyrosine for radiolabeling and a chelating agent forradiolabeling. In another specific embodiment, a peptide comprises acaspase-3 sensitive site, a tyrosine for conjugation to ¹²⁵I and achelating agent for complexing with ¹¹¹In. In still another specificembodiment, a peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:2 (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp), atyrosine for radiolabeling and a chelating agent for radiolabeling. Inyet still another specific embodiment, a peptide comprises a hydrophobicportion and a hydrophilic portion separated by a caspase-3 sensitivesite, a tyrosine for radiolabeling and a chelating agent forradiolabeling. In another specific embodiment, a peptide comprises SEQID NO:4 (Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala) and SEQ ID NO:3(Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys) separated by the caspase-3sensitive site set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp), a tyrosinefor radiolabeling and a chelating agent for radiolabeling. Specifically,a peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:6(Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys).In certain embodiments, the peptide comprises a terminal-NH₂ acylation.Specifically, the terminal-NH₂ acylation is acetylation.

In another different specific embodiment, a peptide comprises a MMP9sensitive site, a tyrosine for radiolabeling, a cysteine for conjugationto a nanoparticle and a chelating agent for radiolabeling. In anotherspecific embodiment, a peptide comprises a MMP9 sensitive site, atyrosine for conjugation to ¹²⁵I, a cysteine for conjugation to ananoparticle and a chelating agent for complexing with ¹¹¹In or ⁶⁴Cu. Instill another specific embodiment, a peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:1(Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys), wherein ¹²⁵I isconjugated to the tyrosine, the cysteine is conjugated to a nanoparticleand a chelating agent is conjugated to the glycine.

In yet another different specific embodiment, a peptide comprises a MMP9sensitive site, a cysteine for conjugation to a nanoparticle and achelating agent for radiolabeling. In another specific embodiment, apeptide comprises a MMP9 sensitive site, a cysteine for conjugation to ananoparticle and a chelating agent for complexing with ¹¹¹In. In stillanother specific embodiment, a peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:1(Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys), wherein thecysteine is conjugated to the nanoparticle and a chelating agent isconjugated to the glycine.

In yet still another different specific embodiment, a peptide comprisesa MMP9 sensitive site, a PEG, and a chelating agent for radiolabeling.In another specific embodiment, a peptide comprises a MMP9 sensitivesite, a PEG, and a chelating agent for complexing with ¹¹¹In. In stillanother specific embodiment, a peptide comprises SEQ ID NO:1(Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys), wherein thecysteine is conjugated to a PEG and a chelating agent is conjugated tothe glycine. In still yet another specific embodiment, a peptidecomprises SEQ ID NO:1(Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys), wherein thecysteine is conjugated to a PEG, the PEG is conjugated to ananoparticle, and a chelating agent is conjugated to the glycine.

(b) Particle

A composition of the invention further comprises a particle. As usedherein the term “particle” includes nanoparticles as well asmicroparticles. Nanoparticles are defined as particles of less than 1.0μm in diameter. A preparation of nanoparticles includes particles havingan average particle size of less than 1.0 μm in diameter. Microparticlesare particles of greater than 1.0 μm in diameter but less than 1 mm. Apreparation of microparticles includes particles having an averageparticle size of greater than 1.0 μm in diameter. The microparticles maytherefore have a diameter of at least 5, at least 10, at least 25, atleast 50, or at least 75 microns, including sizes in ranges of 5-10microns, 5-15 microns, 5-20 microns, 5-30 microns, 5-40 microns, or 5-50microns. A composition of particles may have heterogeneous sizedistributions ranging from 1 nm to mm sizes. In a specific embodiment, aparticle of the invention is a nanoparticle. In some embodiments thediameter is about 5 nm to about 500 nm. In other embodiments, thediameter is about 100 nm to about 200 nm. In another embodiment, thediameter is about 10 nm to about 100 nm. In still another embodiment,the diameter is about 10 nm to about 50 nm. In a specific embodiment,the diameter is about 10 nm.

The particles may be composed of a variety of materials includingceramic, metallic, natural polymer materials (including lipids, sugars,chitosan, hyaluronic acid etc), synthetic polymer materials (includingpoly-lactide-coglycolide, poly-glycerol sebacate, etc), and non-polymermaterials, or combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, the particles may be inorganic nanoparticles.Inorganic nanoparticles are primarily metal-based and have the potentialto be synthesized with near monodispersity. Non-limiting examples ofinorganic nanoparticles include iron oxide nanoparticles, nickelnanoparticles, cobalt nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, goldnanoparticles, calcium-phosphate based nanoparticles, silvernanoparticles, platinum nanoparticles and quantum dots (e.g. CdS, CdSe,Ag₂S). In a specific embodiment, a nanoparticle of the invention is agold nanoparticle.

In certain embodiments, a radionuclide may be incorporated into ananoparticle. A radionuclide may be as described above in SectionI(a)(ii). In a specific embodiment a radiometal may be incorporated intoa nanoparticle. For example, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹⁹⁹Au or ⁶⁴Cu may be incorporatedinto a gold nanoparticle. In a specific embodiment, ¹⁹⁹Au may beincorporated into a gold nanoparticle.

A cleavable peptide of the invention may be conjugated to a nanoparticleof the invention via a thiol group. In certain embodiments, thecleavable peptide may be conjugated to a nanoparticle of the inventionvia a cysteine residue of the peptide. In other embodiments, thecleavable peptide may be conjugated to a nanoparticle via a thiol groupof polyethylene glycol. In still other embodiments, the cleavablepeptide may be conjugated to a nanoparticle via a thiol group of alinker. Suitable peptides, polyethylene glycols and linkers aredescribed above in Section I(a). In a specific embodiment, a cleavablepeptide may be conjugated to a gold nanoparticle via a cysteine residueof the peptide. In certain embodiments, the cysteine residue is at theN-terminus of the peptide. In another specific embodiment, a cleavablepeptide may be conjugated to a gold nanoparticle via a polyethyleneglycol which is conjugated to the gold nanoparticle via a thiol group.

The particles may also be coated with one or more stabilizingsubstances, which may be particularly useful for long term depoting withparenteral administration or for oral delivery by allowing passage ofthe particles through the stomach or gut without dissolution. Forexample, particles intended for oral delivery may be stabilized with acoating of a substance such as mucin, a secretion containingmucopolysaccharides produced by the goblet cells of the intestine, thesubmaxillary glands, and other mucous glandular cells. Alternatively,polyethylene glycol (PEG) may be incorporated onto the particle surface.Any suitable PEG may incorporated onto the particle surface. PEGs areavailable in a range of molecular weights from 300 g/mol to Ser. No.10/000,000 g/mol. A PEG incorporated onto the particle surface may befrom about 1,000 g/mol to about 20,000 g/mol. Alternatively, a PEGincorporated onto the particle surface may be from about 1,000 g/mol toabout 10,000 g/mol. In another embodiment, a PEG incorporated onto theparticle surface may be from about 5,000 g/mol to about 10,000 g/mol. Ina specific embodiment, a PEG incorporated onto the particle surface maybe 5,000 g/mol.

To enhance delivery the particles may be incorporated, for instance,into liposomes, virosomes, cationic lipids or other lipid basedstructures. The term “cationic lipid” refers to lipids which carry a netpositive charge at physiological pH. Such lipids include, but are notlimited to, DODAC, DOTMA, DDAB, DOTAP, DC-Chol and DMRIE. Additionally,a number of commercial preparations of cationic lipids are available.These include, for example, LIPOFECTIN® (commercially available cationicliposomes comprising DOTMA and DOPE, from GIBCO/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.,USA); LIPOFECTAMINE® (commercially available cationic liposomescomprising DOSPA and DOPE, from GIBCO/BRL); and TRANSFECTAM®(commercially available cationic lipids comprising DOGS in ethanol fromPromega Corp., Madison, Wis., USA). A variety of methods are availablefor preparing liposomes e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,186,183, 4,217,344,4,235,871, 4,261,975, 4,485,054, 4,501,728, 4,774,085, 4,837,028,4,946,787; and PCT Publication No. WO 91/17424. The particles may alsobe composed in whole or in part of GRAS components. i.e., ingredientsare those that are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by the US FDA. GRAScomponents useful as particle material include non-degradable food basedparticles such as cellulose.

In certain embodiments, the particle may further comprise a therapeuticagent. Thus, the compositions of the invention can achieve two purposesat the same time, the diagnostic methods and delivery of a therapeuticagent. Any therapeutic agent can be incorporated within the particles,which can locally or systemically deliver or maintain the incorporatedagents following administration or application to a subject. Atherapeutic agent can be incorporated into the particles usingtechnology known to those skilled in the art. A particle may compriseone, two, three, four, or five therapeutic agents. Therapeutic agentsinclude but are not limited to drugs, therapeutic compounds, geneticmaterials, metals (such as radioactive isotopes), proteins, peptides,carbohydrates, lipids, steroids, nucleic acid based materials, orderivatives, analogues, or combinations thereof in their native form orderivatized with hydrophobic or charged moieties to enhanceincorporation or adsorption into a cell. Such therapeutic agents may bewater soluble or may be hydrophobic. Non-limiting examples oftherapeutic agents may include immune-related agents, thyroid agents,respiratory products, antineoplastic agents, anti-helmintics,anti-malarials, mitotic inhibitors, hormones, anti-protozoans,anti-tuberculars, cardiovascular products, blood products, biologicalresponse modifiers, anti-fungal agents, vitamins, peptides,anti-allergic agents, anti-coagulation agents, circulatory drugs,metabolic potentiators, anti-virals, anti-anginals, antibiotics,anti-inflammatories, anti-rheumatics, narcotics, cardiac glycosides,neuromuscular blockers, sedatives, local anesthetics, generalanesthetics, or radioactive atoms or ions. Non-limiting examples oftherapeutic agents are described below.

In a specific embodiment, a therapeutic agent is any compound known inthe art that is used in the detection, diagnosis, or treatment ofcancer. Such compounds may be naturally-occurring, modified, orsynthetic. The therapeutic agent preferably reduces or interferes withtumor growth or otherwise reduces the effect of the tumor within thebody or organism. A therapeutic agent that reduces the symptoms producedby the tumor or reduces tumor growth is suitable for the presentinvention. Additionally, any therapeutic agent that reduces the symptomsassociated with tumor cell growth will work for purposes of the presentinvention.

A therapeutic agent of the invention may be a small moleculetherapeutic, a therapeutic nucleic acid, or a chemotherapeutic agent. Arepresentative therapeutic nucleic acid may encode a polypeptide havingan ability to induce an immune response and/or an anti-angiogenicresponse in vivo. Representative therapeutic proteins withimmunostimulatory effects include but are not limited to cytokines(e.g., an interleukin (IL) such as IL2, IL4, IL7, IL12, interferons,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumornecrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)), immunomodulatory cell surface proteins(e.g., human leukocyte antigen (HLA proteins), co-stimulatory molecules,and tumor-associated antigens. See Kirk & Mule, 2000; Mackensen et al.,1997; Walther & Stein, 1999; and references cited therein.Representative proteins with anti-angiogenic activities that can be usedin accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter include:thrombospondin I (Kosfeld & Frazier, 1993; Tolsma et al., 1993; Dameronet al., 1994), metallospondin proteins (Carpizo & Iruela-Arispe, 2000),class I interferons (Albini et al., 2000), ID 2 (Voest et al., 1995),protamine (Ingber et al., 1990), angiostatin (O'Reilly et al., 1994),laminin (Sakamoto et al., 1991), endostatin (O'Reilly et al., 1997), anda prolactin fragment (Clapp et al., 1993). In addition, severalanti-angiogenic peptides have been isolated from these proteins (Maioneet al., 1990; Eijan et al., 1991; Woltering et al., 1991).Representative proteins with both immunostimulatory and anti-angiogenicactivities may include IL12, interferon-γ, or a chemokine. Othertherapeutic nucleic acids that may be useful for cancer therapy includebut are not limited to nucleic acid sequences encoding tumor suppressorgene products/antigens, antimetabolites, suicide gene products, andcombinations thereof.

A chemotherapeutic agent refers to a chemical compound that is useful inthe treatment of cancer. The compound may be a cytotoxic agent thataffects rapidly dividing cells in general, or it may be a targetedtherapeutic agent that affects the deregulated proteins of cancer cells.A cytotoxic agent is any naturally-occurring, modified, or syntheticcompound that is toxic to tumor cells. Such agents are useful in thetreatment of neoplasms, and in the treatment of other symptoms ordiseases characterized by cell proliferation or a hyperactive cellpopulation. The chemotherapeutic agent may be an alkylating agent, ananti-metabolite, an anti-tumor antibiotic, an anti-cytoskeletal agent, atopoisomerase inhibitor, an anti-hormonal agent, a targeted therapeuticagent, a photodynamic therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof. In anexemplary embodiment, the chemotherapeutic agent is selected from thegroup consisting of liposomal doxorubicin and nanoparticle albumindocetaxel.

Non-limiting examples of suitable alkylating agents may includealtretamine, benzodopa, busulfan, carboplatin, carboquone, carmustine(BCNU), chlorambucil, chlornaphazine, cholophosphamide, chlorozotocin,cisplatin, cyclosphosphamide, dacarbazine (DTIC), estramustine,fotemustine, ifosfamide, improsulfan, lipoplatin, lomustine (CCNU),mafosfamide, mannosulfan, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxidehydrochloride, melphalan, meturedopa, mustine (mechlorethamine),mitobronitol, nimustine, novembichin, oxaliplatin, phenesterine,piposulfan, prednimustine, ranimustine, satraplatin, semustine,temozolomide, thiotepa, treosulfan, triaziquone, triethylenemelamine,triethylenephosphoramide (TEPA), triethylenethiophosphaoramide(thiotepa), tri methylolomelamine, trofosfamide, uracil mustard anduredopa.

Suitable anti-metabolites may include, but are not limited toaminopterin, ancitabine, azacitidine, 8-azaguanine, 6-azauridine,capecitabine, carmofur (1-hexylcarbomoyl-5-fluorouracil), cladribine,clofarabine, cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C)), decitabine,denopterin, dideoxyuridine, doxifluridine, enocitabine, floxuridine,fludarabine, 5-fluorouracil, gemcetabine, hydroxyurea(hydroxycarbamide), leucovorin (folinic acid), 6-mercaptopurine,methotrexate, nafoxidine, nelarabine, oblimersen, pemetrexed,pteropterin, raltitrexed, tegofur, tiazofurin, thiamiprine, tioguanine(thioguanine), and trimetrexate.

Non-limiting examples of suitable anti-tumor antibiotics may includeaclacinomysin, aclarubicin, actinomycins, adriamycin, aurostatin (forexample, monomethyl auristatin E), authramycin, azaserine, bleomycins,cactinomycin, calicheamicin, carabicin, caminomycin, carzinophilin,chromomycins, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin,6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, doxorubicin, epirubicin, epoxomicin,esorubicin, idarubicin, marcellomycin, mitomycins, mithramycin,mycophenolic acid, nogalamycin, olivomycins, peplomycin, plicamycin,potfiromycin, puromycin, quelamycin, rodorubicin, sparsomycin,streptonigrin, streptozocin, tubercidin, valrubicin, ubenimex,zinostatin, and zorubicin.

Non-limiting examples of suitable anti-cytoskeletal agents may includecabazitaxel, colchicines, demecolcine, docetaxel, epothilones,ixabepilone, macromycin, omacetaxine mepesuccinate, ortataxel,paclitaxel (for example, DHA-paclitaxel), taxane, tesetaxel,vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, and vinorelbine.

Suitable topoisomerase inhibitors may include, but are not limited to,amsacrine, etoposide (VP-16), irinotecan, mitoxantrone, RFS 2000,teniposide, and topotecan.

Non-limiting examples of suitable anti-hormonal agents may includeaminoglutethimide, antiestrogen, aromatase inhibiting 4(5)-imidazoles,bicalutamide, finasteride, flutamide, fluvestrant, goserelin,4-hydroxytamoxifen, keoxifene, leuprolide, LY117018, mitotane,nilutamide, onapristone, raloxifene, tamoxifen, toremifene, andtrilostane.

Examples of targeted therapeutic agents may include, without limit,monoclonal antibodies such as alemtuzumab, cartumaxomab, edrecolomab,epratuzumab, gemtuzumab, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, glembatumumab vedotin,ibritumomab tiuxetan, reditux, rituximab, tositumomab, and trastuzumab;protein kinase inhibitors such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, crizonib,dasatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, imatinib, lapatinib, mubritinib,nilotinib, panitumumab, pazopanib, sorafenib, sunitinib, toceranib, andvandetanib.

Non limiting examples of angiogeneisis inhibitors may includeangiostatin, bevacizumab, denileukin diftitox, endostatin, everolimus,genistein, interferon alpha, interleukin-2, interleukin-12, pazopanib,pegaptanib, ranibizumab, rapamycin (sirolimus), temsirolimus, andthalidomide.

Non limiting examples of growth inhibitory polypeptides may includebortazomib, erythropoietin, interleukins (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6),leukemia inhibitory factor, interferons, romidepsin, thrombopoietin,TNF-α, CD30 ligand, 4-1 BB ligand, and Apo-1 ligand.

Non-limiting examples of photodynamic therapeutic agents may includeaminolevulinic acid, methyl aminolevulinate, retinoids (alitretinon,tamibarotene, tretinoin), and temoporfin.

Other antineoplastic agents may include anagrelide, arsenic trioxide,asparaginase, bexarotene, bropirimine, celecoxib, chemically linked Fab,efaproxiral, etoglucid, ferruginol, lonidamide, masoprocol, miltefosine,mitoguazone, talapanel, trabectedin, and vorinostat.

Also included are pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids, orderivatives of any of the above listed agents. The dose of thechemotherapeutic agent can and will vary depending upon the agent andthe type of tumor or neoplasm. A skilled practitioner will be able todetermine the appropriate dose of the chemotherapeutic agent.

Other therapeutic agents may comprise a virus or a viral genome such asan oncolytic virus. An oncolytic virus comprises a naturally occurringvirus that is capable of killing a cell in the target tissue (forexample, by lysis) when it enters such a cell.

In other embodiments, a particle may further comprise a targeting agent.A targeting agent may promote targeting of the particle to a desiresite. For example, a particle may be coated with a targeting agent. Atargeting agent can have an affinity for a cell, a tissue, a protein,DNA, RNA, an antibody, an antigen, a compound, and the like, that may beassociated with a condition, disease, or related biological event, ofinterest. In a specific embodiment, the targeting agent has affinity fora tumor. In particular, the targeting agent can function to targetspecific DNA, RNA, and/or proteins of interest. In an embodiment, thetargeting agent can include, but is not limited to, polypeptides (e.g.,proteins such as, but not limited to, cell surface receptors andantibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal)), antigens, nucleic acids (bothmonomeric and oligomeric), polysaccharides, sugars, fatty acids,steroids, purines, pyrimidines, ligands, aptamers, small molecules,albumin, or combinations thereof, that have an affinity for a condition,disease, or related biological event or other chemical, biochemical,and/or biological events of the condition, disease, or biological event.In an embodiment, the targeting agent can include: aptamers,sequence-specific DNA oligonucleotides, locked nucleic acids (LNA), andpeptide nucleic acids (PNA), antibodies, and small molecule proteinreceptors. For example, when liver targeting is desired, a compositionmay comprise galactose-containing copolymers which are recognized byhepatocytes. Or, for example, when tumor targeting is desired, atargeting agent may be transferrin which binds to transferrin receptorswhich are highly overexpressed on tumors. One of skill in the art willappreciate that various targeting agents may enable targeting of aparticle to specific tissue. For example, a particle may be conjugatedto antibodies in order to provide specific delivery of the particle tothe site of a tumor.

(c) Pharmaceutical Composition

The present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions. Thepharmaceutical composition comprises a composition of the invention, asan active ingredient, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptableexcipient.

The pharmaceutically acceptable excipient may be a diluent, a binder, afiller, a buffering agent, a pH modifying agent, a disintegrant, adispersant, a preservative, a lubricant, taste-masking agent, aflavoring agent, or a coloring agent. The amount and types of excipientsutilized to form pharmaceutical compositions may be selected accordingto known principles of pharmaceutical science.

In one embodiment, the excipient may be a diluent. The diluent may becompressible (i.e., plastically deformable) or abrasively brittle.Non-limiting examples of suitable compressible diluents includemicrocrystalline cellulose (MCC), cellulose derivatives, cellulosepowder, cellulose esters (i.e., acetate and butyrate mixed esters),ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose,hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cornstarch, phosphated corn starch, pregelatinized corn starch, rice starch,potato starch, tapioca starch, starch-lactose, starch-calcium carbonate,sodium starch glycolate, glucose, fructose, lactose, lactosemonohydrate, sucrose, xylose, lactitol, mannitol, malitol, sorbitol,xylitol, maltodextrin, and trehalose. Non-limiting examples of suitableabrasively brittle diluents include dibasic calcium phosphate (anhydrousor dihydrate), calcium phosphate tribasic, calcium carbonate, andmagnesium carbonate.

In another embodiment, the excipient may be a binder. Suitable bindersinclude, but are not limited to, starches, pregelatinized starches,gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, methylcellulose, sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, polyacrylamides,polyvinyloxoazolidone, polyvinylalcohols, C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty acid alcohol,polyethylene glycol, polyols, saccharides, oligosaccharides,polypeptides, oligopeptides, and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the excipient may be a filler. Suitable fillersinclude, but are not limited to, carbohydrates, inorganic compounds, andpolyvinylpyrrolidone. By way of non-limiting example, the filler may becalcium sulfate, both di- and tri-basic, starch, calcium carbonate,magnesium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, dibasic calciumphosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, talc,modified starches, lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or sorbitol.

In still another embodiment, the excipient may be a buffering agent.Representative examples of suitable buffering agents include, but arenot limited to, phosphates, carbonates, citrates, tris buffers, andbuffered saline salts (e.g., Tris buffered saline or phosphate bufferedsaline).

In various embodiments, the excipient may be a pH modifier. By way ofnon-limiting example, the pH modifying agent may be sodium carbonate,sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, citric acid, or phosphoric acid.

In a further embodiment, the excipient may be a disintegrant. Thedisintegrant may be non-effervescent or effervescent. Suitable examplesof non-effervescent disintegrants include, but are not limited to,starches such as corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized and modifiedstarches thereof, sweeteners, clays, such as bentonite,micro-crystalline cellulose, alginates, sodium starch glycolate, gumssuch as agar, guar, locust bean, karaya, pecitin, and tragacanth.Non-limiting examples of suitable effervescent disintegrants includesodium bicarbonate in combination with citric acid and sodiumbicarbonate in combination with tartaric acid.

In yet another embodiment, the excipient may be a dispersant ordispersing enhancing agent. Suitable dispersants may include, but arenot limited to, starch, alginic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidones, guar gum,kaolin, bentonite, purified wood cellulose, sodium starch glycolate,isoamorphous silicate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

In another alternate embodiment, the excipient may be a preservative.Non-limiting examples of suitable preservatives include antioxidants,such as BHA, BHT, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, or retinyl palmitate,citric acid, sodium citrate; chelators such as EDTA or EGTA; andantimicrobials, such as parabens, chlorobutanol, or phenol.

In a further embodiment, the excipient may be a lubricant. Non-limitingexamples of suitable lubricants include minerals such as talc or silica;and fats such as vegetable stearin, magnesium stearate or stearic acid.

In yet another embodiment, the excipient may be a taste-masking agent.Taste-masking materials include cellulose ethers; polyethylene glycols;polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol copolymers;monoglycerides or triglycerides; acrylic polymers; mixtures of acrylicpolymers with cellulose ethers; cellulose acetate phthalate; andcombinations thereof.

In an alternate embodiment, the excipient may be a flavoring agent.Flavoring agents may be chosen from synthetic flavor oils and flavoringaromatics and/or natural oils, extracts from plants, leaves, flowers,fruits, and combinations thereof.

In still a further embodiment, the excipient may be a coloring agent.Suitable color additives include, but are not limited to, food, drug andcosmetic colors (FD&C), drug and cosmetic colors (D&C), or external drugand cosmetic colors (Ext. D&C).

The weight fraction of the excipient or combination of excipients in thecomposition may be about 99% or less, about 97% or less, about 95% orless, about 90% or less, about 85% or less, about 80% or less, about 75%or less, about 70% or less, about 65% or less, about 60% or less, about55% or less, about 50% or less, about 45% or less, about 40% or less,about 35% or less, about 30% or less, about 25% or less, about 20% orless, about 15% or less, about 10% or less, about 5% or less, about 2%,or about 1% or less of the total weight of the composition.

The composition can be formulated into various dosage forms andadministered by a number of different means that will deliver atherapeutically effective amount of the active ingredient. Suchcompositions can be administered enterally (oral, gastric, rectaladministration) parenterally, or intratumorally in dosage unitformulations containing conventional nontoxic pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers, adjuvants, and vehicles as desired. The termparenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous,intramuscular, intra-articular, or intrasternal injection, or infusiontechniques. Formulation of drugs is discussed in, for example, Gennaro,A. R., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton,Pa. (18^(th) ed, 1995), and Liberman, H. A. and Lachman, L., Eds.,Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, N.Y. (1980).In a specific embodiment, a composition may be an intravenous orintratracheal composition.

Dosage forms for enteral administration include pills, tablets, capletsand capsules (chewable, dissolvable or swallow), time-release andsustained-release tablets and capsules, powders of granules, pellets,teas, drops, liquid or syrups (solution, softgel, suspension, emulsion,elixir, tincture, hydrogel), film, lollipop, lozenges, chewing gum, andoral spray. In such dosage forms, the active ingredient is ordinarilycombined with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients,examples of which are detailed above. Oral preparations may also beadministered as aqueous suspensions, elixirs, or syrups. For these, theactive ingredient may be combined with various sweetening or flavoringagents, coloring agents, and, if so desired, emulsifying and/orsuspending agents, as well as diluents such as water, ethanol, glycerin,and combinations thereof. For administration by inhalation, thecompounds are delivered in the form of an aerosol spray from pressuredcontainer or dispenser which contains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gassuch as carbon dioxide, or a nebulizer.

For parenteral administration, the preparation may be an aqueous or anoil-based solution. Aqueous solutions may include a sterile diluent suchas water, saline solution, a pharmaceutically acceptable polyol such asglycerol, propylene glycol, or other synthetic solvents; anantibacterial and/or antifungal agent such as benzyl alcohol, methylparaben, chlorobutanol, phenol, thimerosal, and the like; an antioxidantsuch as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; a chelating agent such asetheylenediaminetetraacetic acid; a buffer such as acetate, citrate, orphosphate; and/or an agent for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodiumchloride, dextrose, or a polyalcohol such as mannitol or sorbitol. ThepH of the aqueous solution may be adjusted with acids or bases such ashydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Oil-based solutions orsuspensions may further comprise sesame, peanut, olive oil, or mineraloil. For additional information regarding intraperitonealadministration, see de Vin et al., Peritoneal Dialysis International2009; 29: 5-15.

The compositions may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers,for example sealed ampoules and vials, and may be stored in afreeze-dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of thesterile liquid carried, for example water for injections, immediatelyprior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may beprepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets.

II. Methods

In an aspect, the present invention provides a method of detectingenzyme activity associated with a disease or condition in a subject. Themethod comprises: (a) administering to the subject an effective amountof a composition comprising: a cleavable peptide and a first and secondradionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclide are separated bya site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can be spectrallydifferentiated; (b) imaging the subject for a signal corresponding tothe first and second radionuclide to determine the biodistribution forthe first and second radionuclide; and (c) comparing the biodistributionof the first radionuclide to the biodistribution of the secondradionuclide, wherein when the biodistribution for the firstradionuclide differs from the biodistribution for the secondradionuclide, enzyme activity is detected. In certain embodiments, thecomposition comprises: a particle, a cleavable peptide and a first andsecond radionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclide areseparated by a site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can bespectrally differentiated and the second radionuclide is capable ofbeing released upon cleavage.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of detectinglung injury in a subject. The method comprises (a) administering to thesubject an effective amount of a composition comprising: a cleavablepeptide comprising a MMP9 sensitive site, and a first and secondradionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclide are separated bythe MMP9 sensitive site and can be spectrally differentiated; (b)imaging the subject for a signal corresponding to the first and secondradionuclide to determine the biodistribution for the first and secondradionuclide; and (c) comparing the biodistribution of the firstradionuclide to the biodistribution of the second radionuclide, whereinwhen the biodistribution for the first radionuclide differs from thebiodistribution for the second radionuclide, lung injury is detected. Incertain embodiments, the composition comprises: a particle, a cleavablepeptide comprising a MMP9 sensitive site and a first and secondradionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclide are separated bythe MMP9 sensitive site and can be spectrally differentiated and thesecond radionuclide is capable of being released upon cleavage.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofdetecting a tumor in a subject. The method comprises (a) administeringto the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising: acleavable peptide, and a first and second radionuclide, wherein thefirst and second radionuclide are separated by a site susceptible tocleavage by an enzyme and can be spectrally differentiated; (b) imagingthe subject for a signal corresponding to the first and secondradionuclide to determine the biodistribution for the first and secondradionuclide; and (c) comparing the biodistribution of the firstradionuclide to the biodistribution of the second radionuclide, whereinwhen the biodistribution for the first radionuclide differs from thebiodistribution for the second radionuclide, a tumor is detected. Incertain embodiments, the composition comprises: a particle, a cleavablepeptide and a first and second radionuclide, wherein the first andsecond radionuclide are separated by a site susceptible to cleavage byan enzyme and can be spectrally differentiated and the secondradionuclide is capable of being released upon cleavage. In a specificembodiment, the cleavable peptide comprises a MMP9 sensitive site.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for monitoring aresponse to treatment in a subject. The method comprises (a)administering to the subject an effective amount of a compositioncomprising: a cleavable peptide, and a first and second radionuclide,wherein the first and second radionuclide are separated by a sitesusceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can be spectrallydifferentiated; (b) imaging the subject for a signal corresponding tothe first and second radionuclide to determine the biodistribution forthe first and second radionuclide; (c) repeating (a)-(b) at a latertime, and subsequently comparing the biodistribution of the first andsecond radionuclide in the first imaging event to the biodistribution ofthe first and second radionuclide in the second imaging event, wherein achange in biodistribution between the first and second imaging eventsindicates a response to treatment. For example, if an enzyme isupregulated during disease and the difference between thebiodistribution of the first and second radionuclide is greater in thefirst imaging event than the difference between the biodistribution ofthe first and second radionuclide in the second imaging event, then thesubject is responding to treatment. Alternatively, if the differencebetween the biodistribution of the first and second radionuclide is thesame or lower in the first imaging event than the difference between thebiodistribution of the first and second radionuclide in the secondimaging event, then the subject is not responding to treatment and/orthe disease has progressed. In certain embodiments, the compositioncomprises: a particle, a cleavable peptide and a first and secondradionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclide are separated bya site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can be spectrallydifferentiated and the second radionuclide is capable of being releasedupon cleavage.

The invention comprises, in part, imaging a subject. Imaging may be usedto determine the biodistribution of the radionuclides. As used herein,“biodistribution” is a method of tracking where the radionuclides travelin the subject. Non-limiting examples of modalities of imaging mayinclude magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), computedtomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single PhotonEmission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and optical imaging (OI,bioluminescence and fluorescence). Radioactive molecular probes aretraditionally imaged with PET, SPECT or gamma (γ) cameras, by takingadvantage of the capability of these imaging modalities to detect thehigh energetic γ rays. In a specific embodiment, a subject is imagedwith SPECT. In another specific embodiment, a subject is imaged withSPECT-CT.

The subject may be imaged minutes, hours or days after administration ofa composition of the invention. Accordingly, the subject may be imagedfrom about 10 to about 15 minutes, or from about 15 to about 30 minutes,or from about 30 minutes to about 45 minutes, or from about 45 minutesto 60 minutes after administration of a composition of the invention.Alternatively, the subject may be imaged from about 1 hour to about 2hours, or from about 2 hours to about 3 hours, or from about 3 hours toabout 4 hours, or from about 4 hours to about 5 hours, or from about 5hours to about 6 hours, or from about 6 hours to about 7 hours, or fromabout 7 hours to about 8 hours after administration of a composition ofthe invention. In certain embodiments, a subject may be imaged fromabout 4 hours to about 48 hours after administration of a composition ofthe invention. In another embodiment, the subject may be imaged fromabout 1 day to about 2 days, or from about 2 days to about 3 days, orfrom about 3 days to about 4 days, or from about 4 days to about 5 days,or from about 5 days to about 6 days, or from about 6 days to about 7days after administration of a composition of the invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method fortreating, stabilizing and/or preventing cancer and associated diseasesin a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject aneffective amount of a composition comprising: a cleavable peptide, and afirst and second radionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclideare separated by a site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can bespectrally differentiated, thereby treating, stabilizing and/orpreventing the cancer or the associated diseases. In certainembodiments, the composition comprises: a particle, a cleavable peptideand a first and second radionuclide, wherein the first and secondradionuclide are separated by a site susceptible to cleavage by anenzyme and can be spectrally differentiated and the second radionuclideis capable of being released upon cleavage. In the foregoing embodiment,the particle may comprise a therapeutic agent. In other embodiments, thefirst radionuclide is a radionuclide used in radiotherapy. By “treating,stabilizing, or preventing cancer” is meant causing a reduction in thesize of a tumor or in the number of cancer cells, slowing or preventingan increase in the size of a tumor or cancer cell proliferation,increasing the disease-free survival time between the disappearance of atumor or other cancer and its reappearance, preventing an initial orsubsequent occurrence of a tumor or other cancer, or reducing an adversesymptom associated with a tumor or other cancer. In a desiredembodiment, the percent of tumor or cancerous cells surviving thetreatment is at least 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100% lower than the initialnumber of tumor or cancerous cells, as measured using any standard assay(e.g., caspase assays, TUNEL and DNA fragmentation assays, cellpermeability assays, and Annexin V assays). Desirably, the decrease inthe number of tumor or cancerous cells induced by administration of acomposition of the invention is at least 2, 5, 10, 20, or 50-foldgreater than the decrease in the number of non-tumor or non-cancerouscells. Desirably, the methods of the present invention result in adecrease of 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100% in the size of a tumor or in thenumber of cancerous cells, as determined using standard methods.Desirably, at least 20, 40, 60, 80, 90, or 95% of the treated subjectshave a complete remission in which all evidence of the tumor or cancerdisappears. Desirably, the tumor or cancer does not reappear orreappears after at least 5, 10, 15, or 20 years.

(a) Subject

A subject of the invention may be a human, a livestock animal, acompanion animal, a lab animal, or a zoological animal. In oneembodiment, the subject may be a rodent, e.g. a mouse, a rat, a guineapig, etc. In another embodiment, the subject may be a livestock animal.Non-limiting examples of suitable livestock animals may include pigs,cows, horses, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas. In yet anotherembodiment, the subject may be a companion animal. Non-limiting examplesof companion animals may include pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, andbirds. In yet another embodiment, the subject may be a zoologicalanimal. As used herein, a “zoological animal” refers to an animal thatmay be found in a zoo. Such animals may include non-human primates,large cats, wolves, and bears. In certain embodiments, the animal is alaboratory animal. Non-limiting examples of a laboratory animal mayinclude rodents, canines, felines, and non-human primates. In certainembodiments, the animal is a rodent. Non-limiting examples of rodentsmay include mice, rats, guinea pigs, etc.

(b) Tumor

A composition of the invention may be used to treat or recognize a tumorderived from a neoplasm or a cancer. “Neoplasm” is any tissue, or cellthereof, characterized by abnormal growth as a result of excessive celldivision. The neoplasm may be malignant or benign, the cancer may beprimary or metastatic; the neoplasm or cancer may be early stage or latestage. Non-limiting examples of neoplasms or cancers that may be treatedor detected include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloidleukemia, adrenocortical carcinoma, AIDS-related cancers, AIDS-relatedlymphoma, anal cancer, appendix cancer, astrocytomas (childhoodcerebellar or cerebral), basal cell carcinoma, bile duct cancer, bladdercancer, bone cancer, brainstem glioma, brain tumors (cerebellarastrocytoma, cerebral astrocytoma/malignant glioma, ependymoma,medulloblastoma, supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors, visualpathway and hypothalamic gliomas), breast cancer, bronchialadenomas/carcinoids, Burkitt lymphoma, carcinoid tumors (childhood,gastrointestinal), carcinoma of unknown primary, central nervous systemlymphoma (primary), cerebellar astrocytoma, cerebralastrocytoma/malignant glioma, cervical cancer, childhood cancers,chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronicmyeloproliferative disorders, colon cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma,desmoplastic small round cell tumor, endometrial cancer, ependymoma,esophageal cancer, Ewing's sarcoma in the Ewing family of tumors,extracranial germ cell tumor (childhood), extragonadal germ cell tumor,extrahepatic bile duct cancer, eye cancers (intraocular melanoma,retinoblastoma), gallbladder cancer, gastric (stomach) cancer,gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, germcell tumors (childhood extracranial, extragonadal, ovarian), gestationaltrophoblastic tumor, gliomas (adult, childhood brain stem, childhoodcerebral astrocytoma, childhood visual pathway and hypothalamic),gastric carcinoid, hairy cell leukemia, head and neck cancer,hepatocellular (liver) cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, hypopharyngeal cancer,hypothalamic and visual pathway glioma (childhood), intraocularmelanoma, islet cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma, kidney cancer (renalcell cancer), laryngeal cancer, leukemias (acute lymphoblastic, acutemyeloid, chronic lymphocytic, chronic myelogenous, hairy cell), lip andoral cavity cancer, liver cancer (primary), lung cancers (non-smallcell, small cell), lymphomas (AIDS-related, Burkitt, cutaneous T-cell,Hodgkin, non-Hodgkin, primary central nervous system), macroglobulinemia(Waldenström), malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone/osteosarcoma,medulloblastoma (childhood), melanoma, intraocular melanoma, Merkel cellcarcinoma, mesotheliomas (adult malignant, childhood), metastaticsquamous neck cancer with occult primary, mouth cancer, multipleendocrine neoplasia syndrome (childhood), multiple myeloma/plasma cellneoplasm, mycosis fungoides, myelodysplastic syndromes,myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases, myelogenous leukemia(chronic), myeloid leukemias (adult acute, childhood acute), multiplemyeloma, myeloproliferative disorders (chronic), nasal cavity andparanasal sinus cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, neuroblastoma,non-Hodgkin lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, oral cancer,oropharyngeal cancer, osteosarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma ofbone, ovarian cancer, ovarian epithelial cancer (surfaceepithelial-stromal tumor), ovarian germ cell tumor, ovarian lowmalignant potential tumor, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cancer (isletcell), paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer, parathyroid cancer,penile cancer, pharyngeal cancer, pheochromocytoma, pineal astrocytoma,pineal germinoma, pineoblastoma and supratentorial primitiveneuroectodermal tumors (childhood), pituitary adenoma, plasma cellneoplasia, pleuropulmonary blastoma, primary central nervous systemlymphoma, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma (kidneycancer), renal pelvis and ureter transitional cell cancer,retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (childhood), salivary gland cancer,sarcoma (Ewing family of tumors, Kaposi, soft tissue, uterine), Sezarysyndrome, skin cancers (nonmelanoma, melanoma), skin carcinoma (Merkelcell), small cell lung cancer, small intestine cancer, soft tissuesarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, squamous neck cancer with occultprimary (metastatic), stomach cancer, supratentorial primitiveneuroectodermal tumor (childhood), T-Cell lymphoma (cutaneous),testicular cancer, throat cancer, thymoma (childhood), thymoma andthymic carcinoma, thyroid cancer, thyroid cancer (childhood),transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter, trophoblastictumor (gestational), enknown primary site (adult, childhood), ureter andrenal pelvis transitional cell cancer, urethral cancer, uterine cancer(endometrial), uterine sarcoma, vaginal cancer, visual pathway andhypothalamic glioma (childhood), vulvar cancer, Waldenströmmacroglobulinemia, and Wilms tumor (childhood). In a preferredembodiment, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of bladdercarcinoma, breast carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma,colorectal carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, gastric sarcoma, glioma,lung carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma,ovarian carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, stomachcarcinoma, a head, a neck tumor, and a solid tumor. In a specificembodiment, the cancer may be breast cancer. In another specificembodiment, the cancer may be epidermoid carcinoma.

(c) Administration

In certain aspects, a pharmacologically effective amount of acomposition of the invention may be administered to a subject.Administration is performed using standard effective techniques,including peripherally (i.e. not by administration into the centralnervous system) or locally to the central nervous system. Peripheraladministration includes but is not limited to intratumoral,intratracheal, intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, pulmonary,transdermal, intramuscular, intranasal, buccal, sublingual, orsuppository administration. Local administration, including directlyinto the central nervous system (CNS) includes but is not limited to viaa lumbar, intraventricular or intraparenchymal catheter or using asurgically implanted controlled release formulation.

Pharmaceutical compositions for effective administration aredeliberately designed to be appropriate for the selected mode ofadministration, and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such ascompatible dispersing agents, buffers, surfactants, preservatives,solubilizing agents, isotonicity agents, stabilizing agents and the likeare used as appropriate. Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, MackPublishing Co., Easton Pa., 16Ed ISBN: 0-912734-04-3, latest edition,incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, provides a compendiumof formulation techniques as are generally known to practitioners. Itmay be particularly useful to alter the solubility characteristics ofthe peptides useful in this discovery, making them more lipophilic, forexample, by encapsulating them in liposomes or by blocking polar groups.

Effective peripheral systemic delivery by intravenous or intratumor orintraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection is a preferred method ofadministration to a living patient. Suitable vehicles for suchinjections are straightforward. In addition, however, administration mayalso be effected through the mucosal membranes by means of nasalaerosols or suppositories. For example, intratracheal administration maybe used. When administration to the lungs is desired, a compositioncomprising a particle as described in Section I(b) may be preferable.Suitable formulations for such modes of administration are well knownand typically include surfactants that facilitate cross-membranetransfer. Such surfactants are often derived from steroids or arecationic lipids, such as N-[1-(2,3-dioleoyl)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA) or various compounds such as cholesterolhemisuccinate, phosphatidyl glycerols and the like.

For diagnostic applications, a detectable amount of a composition of theinvention is administered to a subject. A “detectable amount”, as usedherein to refer to a diagnostic composition, refers to a dose of such acomposition that the presence of the composition can be determined invivo or in vitro. A detectable amount will vary according to a varietyof factors, including but not limited to chemical features of the drugbeing labeled, the detectable label, labeling methods, the method ofimaging and parameters related thereto, metabolism of the labeled drugin the subject, the stability of the label (e.g. the half-life of aradionuclide label), the time elapsed following administration of thedrug and/or labeled peptide prior to imaging, the route of drugadministration, the physical condition and prior medical history of thesubject, and/or the size and longevity of the tumor or suspected tumor.Thus, a detectable amount can vary and can be tailored to a particularapplication. After study of the present disclosure, and in particularthe Examples, it is within the skill of one in the art to determine sucha detectable amount.

For therapeutic applications, a therapeutically effective amount of acomposition of the invention is administered to a subject. A“therapeutically effective amount” is an amount of the therapeuticcomposition sufficient to produce a measurable biological response(e.g., an immunostimulatory, an anti-angiogenic response, a cytotoxicresponse, or tumor regression). Actual dosage levels of activeingredients in a therapeutic composition of the invention can be variedso as to administer an amount of the active compound(s) that iseffective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particularsubject. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of factorsincluding the activity of the therapeutic composition, formulation, theroute of administration, combination with other drugs or treatments,tumor size and longevity, and the physical condition and/or priormedical history of the subject being treated. In some embodiments, aminimal dose is administered, and dose is escalated in the absence ofdose-limiting toxicity. Determination and adjustment of atherapeutically effective dose, as well as evaluation of when and how tomake such adjustments, are known to those of ordinary skill in the artof medicine.

The frequency of dosing may be daily or once, twice, three times or moreper week or per month, as needed as to effectively treat the symptoms.The timing of administration of the treatment relative to the diseaseitself and duration of treatment will be determined by the circumstancessurrounding the case. Treatment could begin immediately, such as at thesite of the injury as administered by emergency medical personnel.Treatment could begin in a hospital or clinic itself, or at a later timeafter discharge from the hospital or after being seen in an outpatientclinic. Duration of treatment could range from a single doseadministered on a one-time basis to a life-long course of therapeutictreatments.

Although the foregoing methods appear the most convenient and mostappropriate and effective for administration of peptides, by suitableadaptation, other effective techniques for administration, such asintraventricular administration, transdermal administration and oraladministration may be employed provided proper formulation is utilizedherein.

In addition, it may be desirable to employ controlled releaseformulations using biodegradable films and matrices, or osmoticmini-pumps, or delivery systems based on dextran beads, alginate, orcollagen.

Typical dosage levels can be determined and optimized using standardclinical techniques and will be dependent on the mode of administration.

TABLE A Sequences SEQ ID NO: Sequence 1Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly- Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys 2 Asp-Glu-Val-Asp 3Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys- Arg-Lys 4Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala 5 Ahx-Tyr-Ahx-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Lys-Gly-Cys 6 Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg- Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys

EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodimentsof the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the artthat the techniques disclosed in the examples that follow representtechniques discovered by the inventors to function well in the practiceof the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferredmodes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, inlight of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can bemade in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain alike or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Example 1 Dual-Radiolabeled Multifunctional Nanoparticle SPECT Probesfor Cancer Imaging

With proper design, nanoparticles (NPs) offer multifunctional propertiesthat can be harnessed for both diagnostic and therapeutic biomedicalapplications.¹ Due to their localized surface plasmon resonant (LSPR)properties, gold NPs² in particular offer unique optical properties thatcan be used for imaging or photothermal therapy³ of either cancerous⁴ orbacterial⁵ cells. Incorporating radioactive functionality into NPs⁶ isan emerging strategy to quantitatively evaluate their in vivoperformance with quantitative biodistribution and imaging modalitiessuch as positron emission tomography (PET)⁷ and optical Cerenkovimaging.⁸ Distinct from PET that only detects 511 keV gamma ray pairs,single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has the ability todetect a range of photonic energies, and therefore can be employed inmultispectral imaging using multiple radionuclides. When properlyintegrated with NP probes, this independent tracking can helpcharacterize important in vivo parameters such as radiolabelingstability, surface anchor stability, and biological parameters such asenzyme activity.

In this study, a multifunctional nanoparticle (NP) agent was designed topassively target tumors and characterize MMP activity using adual-radiolabeling strategy. The strategy takes inspiration fromoptically-activatable probes used to image enzyme activity,⁹ and itinvolves the synthesis of an imaging agent containing two distinctradionuclides, whose gamma emissions can be spectrally differentiated,separated by a cleavable linker.¹⁰ The surface of gold nanoparticles wasfunctionalized with a peptide(DTPA-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys-NH₂—SEQ IDNO:1) containing four important components: (1) a sequence which iscleaved specifically in the presence of MMP9, (2) a tyrosine residue toradiolabel with ¹²⁵I, (3) a DTPA chelator to radiolabel with radiometals(⁶⁴Cu and ¹¹¹In), and (4) a cysteine residue to anchor to the goldsurface. In addition, PEG was incorporated onto the NP surface, whichwas necessary to stabilize the peptide-functionalized NP suspension inaqueous environments (FIG. 4).

Once surface-functionalized with the peptide and PEG, an experiment wasperformed in PBS in order to characterize the ability of MMP9 to cleavethe peptide present on the nanoparticle surface. In this experiment,⁶⁴Cu was chelated to DTPA on the peptide attached to the NP. Thesuspension was incubated with MMP9 for 1.5 hours and then thesupernatant solution was separated from the NPs by centrifugalfiltration. Importantly, 23% of the radioactivity was observed in thesupernatant after incubation with MMP9 compared to less than <5% in acontrol without MMP9 (FIG. 5), which is attributed to the ⁶⁴Cu-labeledpeptide fragment cleaved from the NP by MMP9. To further confirm thepresence of the cleaved peptide, high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was performed on the supernatant solutions, and co-registered UVand radioactive peaks associated with the radiolabeled peptide fragmentwere observed (FIG. 6).

For in vivo spectroscopic SPECT imaging, peptide-functionalized NPs weredual radiolabeled with ¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I. The NP was radiolabeled in twosuccessive steps (FIG. 1). First ¹¹¹InCl₃ was added to a pellet of thesurface-functionalized NP in an acidic buffer under mild heating (45°C.) and incubated for one hour, resuspended in PBS buffer, andcentrifuged to remove unchelated ¹¹¹In. Radiochemical purity of thepellet was characterized with thin layer chromatography (TLC) andconfirmed to be >95%. Then the pellet suspended in PBS was added to aniodigen tube and incubated with Na ¹²⁵I for one hour. Once again, TLCwas performed to ensure radiochemical purity greater than 95%.

Next, a phantom study was performed on the multifunctional NP suspensionin order to confirm the spectroscopic imaging capability with thedual-radiolabeled agent. The dual-radiolabeled suspension was imagedalong with two controls containing only ¹¹¹In or ¹²⁵I. Two imagingwindows were chosen to independently collect photonic emissions from¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I. More specifically, a narrow window centered at 28 keVwas used to detect x-ray emissions from ¹²⁵I (colored blue), and a broadwindow centered around 200 keV was used to acquire gamma emissions from¹¹¹In (colored red). As can be observed in FIG. 7, the two control vialsonly appear as separate colors representing respective energy windows,while the dual-radiolabeled sample contains signal from both energywindows. When the two channels are merged, the NP sample appears purpledue to the presence of both ¹²⁵I and ¹¹¹In.

To explore the in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of thesemultifunctional NPs, suspensions were intravenously injected intotumor-bearing mice and in vivo imaging was performed (FIG. 2).Importantly, both ¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I signals could be independently detectedin the mice (FIG. 2A-B), and were co-registered mainly in the bloodpool, with the heart, carotid arteries, and descending aorta all clearlyvisible (purple signal seen in FIG. 2C). In addition, ¹²⁵I wasidentified in the thyroid, and ¹¹¹In was observed in the bladder.Interestingly, 4 hours after injection, while the ¹¹¹In signal was stillpresent mainly in the blood, the ¹²⁵I signal was isolated to thethyroid, stomach, and bladder (FIG. 8). This result is attributed tofunctional in vivo stability of the ¹¹¹In chelation by DTPA and thethiol anchorage to the gold NP surface, coupled with a lack of in vivo¹²⁵I radiolabeling stability, which has been reported previously.Therefore, only the ¹¹¹In channel was used for later imaging timepoints.

Two types of tumors with differing MMP9 expression levels (high=A431;low=4T1Luc; FIG. 9) were grown in order to explore the ability of thenanoprobe to report the relative MMP9 activity in vivo. By 24 hours,both types of tumors were clearly visible using the ¹¹¹In imagingchannel (FIG. 10). Significant tumor accumulation was quantified fromthe images, corresponding to standardized uptake values (SUVs) of2.03±0.21 (7.25±0.76% ID/gram of tissue) and 1.79±0.19 (6.41±0.57%ID/gram) for the A431 and 4T1Luc tumors, respectively. Themultifunctional NPs passively accumulated around the edges of both typesof tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect.Further, the heart is still clearly visible at the 24 hour time point,evidence that a significant portion of the NP probe is still circulatingin the blood even at this late time point. The NP formulation of theprobe was key to this long blood circulation that impeded clearancethrough the kidney, which occurred for PEG-peptide controls within 4hours (data not shown), a property that may be advantageous in futuredrug delivery or imaging applications where sustained presence in theblood is necessary.

By 48 hours, both types of tumors were still visible, and due to a lossof signal in the blood pool, provided significant tumor to muscle ratiosof ˜8 (FIG. 3A-B), which was validated in the biodistribution results(FIG. 11). Further, and most interestingly, a significant difference inaccumulation was observed between the tumors with high and low MMP9expression (FIG. 3C). Whereas the 4T1Luc tumors with low MMP9 expressioncontinued to accumulate signal between 24 and 48 hours and reached anSUV of 2.8±0.11 (10.2±0.33% ID/gram), a decrease in SUV over the sametime period to 1.75±0.2 (6.23±0.72% ID/gram) was observed in the A431tumors with high MMP9 expression. It is hypothesized thispharmacokinetic difference in uptake between the two tumor types is aresult of their differences in MMP9 expression. More specifically, oncethe ¹¹¹In-labeled NPs accumulated in tumors through the EPR effect, A431tumors with significant MMP9 expression cleaved the ¹¹¹In-labeledpeptide fragment from the NP, causing clearance from the tumor between24 and 48 hours. Once again, the NP is central to the success of thestrategy, in this case helping to avoid non-specific clearance ofuncleaved peptides.

Future work will seek to confirm and expand on targeting MMP activity,incorporate more stable radiochemistry compared to the tyrosine-iodinein order to integrate ratiometric imaging capability, quantify anchoragestability, and optimize the localized surface plasmon resonantproperties of the gold cores for image-guided photothermal therapy.³

Methods for Example 1

Peptide synthesis. Standard Fmoc solid phase synthetic protocols wereused to synthesize the peptide containing the MMP9 substrate, tyrosineresidue, DTPA chelator, and cysteine anchor (Sequence:DTPA-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys-NH₂—SEQ IDNO:1). Briefly, amino acids were successively loaded onto rink amideresin (0.66 mmol/g resin) using a CEM Discover Liberty Microwave PeptideSynthesizer. The peptide was purified with a Gilson UV/Vis-152 highperformance liquid chromatographer (HPLC) using a C18 preparationcolumn. Molecular weight of 1648 g/mol was confirmed withmatrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS).

Nanoparticle Surface Modification.

10 mL of 10 nm diameter citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticle suspension(Sigma Aldrich; 6×10¹² particles/mL) was centrifuged for 1.5 hours at20.3 g. Supernatant was removed, and the nanoparticle pellet wasresuspended in 5 mL of ultrapure water containing 2.2 mg mPEG-SH(MW5000) and 1 mg of synthesized peptide. After 20 minutes ofsonication, the suspension was shaken for 48 hours, then centrifuged for1.5 hours at 20.3 g. Supernatant was again removed, 5 mL 0.1 M NH₄OAc(pH 5.5) was added, and suspension was centrifuged for 2 hours at 13.9g. Supernatant was removed, leaving a 40 μL gold nanoparticle pellet.

In Vitro MMP9 Experiment.

1 mL of peptide-functionalized gold NPs was centrifuged, supernatantdecanted, and resuspended in 0.1 M NH4OAc. 110 μCi ⁶⁴Cu, provided by theWashington University Cyclotron Facility, was added to the NP pellet andshaken at 45° C. for 1 hour. Radiolabeled NPs were purified fromnonchelated ⁶⁴Cu by centrifugation. Then NP suspensions were incubatedwith 20 ng MMP9 for 1.5 hours, after which 450 μL PBS was added andsupernatant was purified from the NPs by centrifugation filtration usinga 10 k MW filter. Supernatant and NP pellets were counted forradioactivity in a PerkinElmer 1480 Automatic Gamma Counter.

Nanoparticle Dual-Radiolabeling Strategy.

7.1 mCi ¹¹¹InCl₃ (16 μL) was added to the 40 μL gold nanoparticle pelletand reacted at 45° C. for 75 minutes. 500 μL PBS was added to the pelletand centrifuged for 2 hours at 20 k g force. Supernatant was removed,leaving 5.6 mCi of ¹¹¹In in the pellet. The pellet was then transferredto an iodogen tube and 3.4 mCi Na ¹²⁵I (50 μL) was added and allowed toreact for 1 hour. Radiochemical purity was quantified by thin layerchromatography (TLC).

SPECT Phantom Study.

1 mL of the dual-radiolabeled NP (˜100 μCi ¹¹¹In and 70 μCi ¹²⁵I) wasplaced in a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube, along with two 1 mL controlscontaining either only ¹²⁵I (96 μCi) or only ¹¹¹In (71 μCi). Tubes wereimaged with 16 projection scans (15 seconds per scan) in a NanoSPECT/CT(Bioscan, Inc., Washington, D.C.) Two energy windows were simultaneouslytracked in order to detect both ¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I; 200±60 keV was monitoredto track ¹¹¹In, and 28±3 keV was used to track ¹²⁵I.

Western Blot for MMP9.

4T1Luc tumor and A431 tumor tissues were homogenized using an ultrasonicprocessor in CHAPS buffer (50 mM Pipes/HCl, pH 6.5, 5 mM dithiothreitol(DTT), 2 mM EDTA, 0.1% Chaps, 20 μg ml⁻¹ leupeptin, 10 μg ml⁻¹pepstatin, 10 μg ml⁻¹ Aprotinin, 1 mM phenyl methylsulphonyl fluoride),and then the tissue lysates were clarified by centrifugation. Afterprotein extraction, the protein concentration was determined by theBio-Rad Protein assay reagent, the tumor samples were adjusted to anequal amount of protein (50 μg). Any kD Mini-Protean TGX Gel (Bio-Red,Hercules, Calif.) was performed using the EC120 Mini vertical gel system(Thermo EC, Holbrook, N.Y.). After SDS denaturing electrophoresis,proteins were transferred to PVDF membrane using an EC140 Mini BlotModule (Thermo EC, Holbrook, N.Y.) apparatus. The membrane was blocked 1h at room temperature in PBS containing 5% nonfat dry milk (w/v), 0.1%(v/v) Tween-20 (PBS-T), followed by incubation with goat polyclonalanti-MMP-9 (R&D Systems Inc, Minneapolis, Minn.) primary antibody (0.1μg/ml) in PBS-T containing 3% nonfat dry milk (w/v) at 4° C. overnight.After washing three times for 10 min each in PBS-T, the membrane wasincubated for 1 h with diluted polyclonal rabbit anti-goat IgGconjugated to horseradish peroxidase in PBS-T containing 3% nonfat drymilk (w/v). Membrane was then washed three times for 10 min each inPBS-T and developed using the SuperSignal West Pico chemiluminescentSubstrate (Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford, Ill.) according to themanufacturer's instruction.

Tumor Mouse Model.

All animal studies were performed in compliance with guidelines setforth by the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and approved by theWashington University Animal Studies Committee. The A431 (ATCC,Manassas, Va.) and 4T1Luc (Sibtech, Brookfield, Conn.) cells werecultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 10% (v/v)fetal bovine serum (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) supplemented withpenicillin (100 μg/mL) and streptomycin (100 μg/mL) in a humidifiedatmosphere of 5% CO₂ in air. To form bilateral xenograft tumors (2tumors per mouse), 10⁶ A431 cells in 100 μL phosphate buffered saline(PBS) were injected into each flanks of 12 week old male nude miceweighing 25-30 g, and tumors were allowed to grow for 18 days. Inseparate nude mice, 5×10⁵ 4 T1Luc cells in 100 μL PBS were injected intoeach flanks, and tumors were allowed to grow for 8 days. Average tumorsizes for either type were ˜100 mm³.

SPECT/CT In Vivo Imaging.

100 μL of dual radiolabeled gold nanoparticle suspension (˜0.8 mCi ¹¹¹Inand 0.7 mCi ¹²⁵I) was injected via the tail vein of nude mice bearingbilateral tumors (either A431 with high MMP9 expression or 4T1Luc withlow MMP9 expression). SPECT/CT imaging was performed on theNanoSPECT/CT. As described in the SPECT phantom study methods above, twoenergy windows were simultaneously tracked in order to detect both ¹¹¹Inand ¹²⁵I. 16 projection scans (60 seconds per scan) were performedimmediately after injection, as well as 4 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hourslater. Tumor standardized uptake values (SUVs) were quantified fromSPECT/CT images using Inveon Research Workspace software (Siemans).

Biodistribution.

After the 48 hour time point, animals were sacrificed, and then organswere removed, weighed, and counted for radioactivity in a Wizard Model1480 gamma counter both immediately after sacrifice and 2 weeks later toisolate signal from both ¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I.

REFERENCES FOR EXAMPLE 1

-   1. Peer, D.; Karp, J.; Hong, S.; Farokhzad, O.; Margalit, R.,    Nanocarriers as an Emerging Platform for Cancer Therapy. Nat.    Nanotechnol. 2007, 2, 751-760.-   2. (a) Huang, X.; Jain, P.; El-Sayed, I.; El-Sayed, M., Gold    Nanostructures: Interesting Optical Properties and Recent    Applications in Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy. Nanomedicine 2007,    2, 681-693; (b) Cobley, C.; Chen, J.; Cho, E.; Wang, L.; Xia, Y.,    Gold Nanostructures: A Class of Multifunctional Materials for    Biomedical Applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2011, 40 (44-56).-   3. Wang, Y.; Black, K.; Luehmann, H.; Li, W.; Zhang, Y.; Cai, X.;    Wan, D.; Liu, S.; Li, M.; Kim, P.; Li, Z.; Wang, L.; Liu, Y.; Xia,    Y., Comparison Study of Gold Nanohexapods, Nanorods, and Nanocages    for Photothermal Cancer Treatment. ACS Nano 2013, 7 (3), 2068-2077.-   4. Black, K.; Yi, J.; Rivera, J.; Zelasko-Leon, D.,    Polydopamine-enabled surface functionalization of gold nanorods for    cancer cell-targeted imaging and photothermal therapy. Nanomedicine    2013, 8 (1), 17-28.-   5. Black, K.; Sileika, T.; Yi, J.; Zhang, R.; Rivera, J.;    Messersmith, P., Bacterial Killing by Light-Triggered Release of    Silver from Biomimetic Metal Nanorods. Small 2014, 10 (1), 169-178.-   6. Zeng, D.; Lee, N.; Liu, Y.; Zhou, D.; Dence, C.; Wooley, K.;    Katzenellenbogen, J.; Welch, M., 64Cu Core-Labeled Nanoparticles    with High Specific Activity via Metal-Free Click Chemistry. ACS Nano    2012, 6 (6), 5209-5219.-   7. (a) Wang, Y.; Liu, Y.; Luehmann, H.; Xia, X.; Brown, P.; Jarreau,    C.; Welch, M.; Xia, Y., Evaluating the Pharmacokinetics and In Vivo    Cancer Targeting Capability of Au Nanocages by Positron Emission    Tomography Imaging. ACS Nano 2012, 6 (7), 5880-5888; (b) Zhao, Y.;    Sultan, D.; Detering, L.; Cho, S.; Sun, G.; Pierce, R.; Wooley, K.;    Liu, Y., Copper-64-Alloyed Gold Nanoparticles for Cancer Imaging:    Improved Radiolabel Stability and Diagnostic Accuracy. Angew. Chem.    Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 156-159.-   8. (a) Wang, Y.; Liu, Y.; Luehmann, H.; Xia, X.; Wan, D.; Cutler,    C.; Xia, Y., Radioluminescent Gold Nanocages with Controlled    Radioactivity for Real-Time in Vivo Imaging. Nano Lett. 2013, 13,    581-585; (b) Black, K.; Wang, Y.; Luehmann, H.; X Cai; W Xing; Pang,    B.; Zhao, Y.; CS Cutler; LV Wang; Y Liu; Xia, Y., Radioactive    198Au-Doped Nanostructures with Different Shapes for In Vivo    Analyses of Their Biodistribution, Tumor Uptake, and-   Intratumoral Distribution. ACS Nano 2014, Apr. 25 (DOI:    10.1021/nn406258m).-   9. (a) Lee, H.; Akers, W.; Edwards, W.; Liang, K.; Cheney, P.;    Culver, J.; Achilefu, S., Complementary optical and nuclear imaging    of caspase-3 activity using combined activatable and radio-labeled    multi modality molecular probe. Journal of Biomedical Optics 2009,    14 (4), 040507-1; (b) Olson, E.; Jiang, T.; Aguilera, T.; Nguyen,    Q.; Ellies, L.; Scadeng, M.; Tsien, R., Activatable cell penetrating    peptides linked to nanoparticles as dual probes for in vivo    fluorescence and MR imaging of proteases. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.    U.S.A. 2010, 107(9), 4311-4316; (c) Solomon, M.; Guo, K.; Sudlow,    G.; Berezin, M.; Edwards, W.; Achilefu, S.; Akers, W., Detection of    enzyme activity in orthotopic murine breast cancer by fluorescence    lifetime imaging using a fluorescence resonance energy    transfer-based molecular probe. Journal of Biomedical Optics 2011,    16 (6), 066019-1.-   10. Mebrahtu, E.; Zheleznyak, A.; Hur, M.; Laforest, R.; Lapi, S.,    Initial characterization of a dually radiolabeled peptide for    simultaneous monitoring of protein targets and enzymatic activity.    Nuclear Medicine and Biology 2013, 40, 190-196.

Example 2 SPECT Imaging Nanoprobe for the Detection of MatrixMetalloproteinase (MMP) Activity

In short the invention is the formulation of a SPECT nanoparticle probefor the detection of MMP activity. The surface of a 10 nm sized goldnanoparticle is functionalized through a thiol anchor with a peptide(DTPA-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys-NH₂—SEQ IDNO:1) that is cleaved in the presence of MMP9. The surface is alsofunctionalized with methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) to increasecolloidal stability. The DTPA is radiolabeled with In-111 (or Cu-64 orpotentially other radiometals) and Tyrosine is radiolabeled with I-125.MMP activity can be detected by tracking the 2 radionuclidesindependently, where after the peptide is cleaved, the radiometal isreleased from the nanoparticle.

Radiolabeling and purity was characterized with radioactive thin layerchromatography. DTPA was radiolabeled with Cu-64 and the probe wasincubated with MMP9, and significantly higher activity was releasedcompared to control, which is attributed to the peptide cleavage byMMP9. Proof of concept experiments were performed in tumor mouse modelswith differing MMP9 expression profiles, where preliminary evidenceshowed a differential uptake profile in the different types of tumors,which is evidence for detection of the peptide cleavage event by MMP9.

Detection of MMP activity is relevant to a number of biologicalprocesses and diseases, including cancer and acute lung injury.

Introduction to Example 3

Imaging agents that activate under specific conditions, for exampleunder low pH or in the presence of an enzyme, have the ability toprovide molecular, biological, and physiologically specific contrast.Most often, these activatable probes are optical in nature, wherein anemitter is linked with a quencher by a cleavable domain. This hasallowed for the characterization and imaging of not just binding events,but other biological processes such as enzyme activity. Probes specificfor matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and caspases, among others, havebeen reported. The activatable optical contrast agents, however, arehampered by their poor tissue penetration, which has limited theirclinical translatability in many areas. Therefore, a nuclear activatablealternative is highly desired in order to fulfill the promise of thisclass of imaging agent. Recently, a gold nanoparticledually-radiolabeled with ¹¹¹In and ¹²⁵I was synthesized in order toimage activation in the presence of MMP9 in a tumor model by usingtwo-channel SPECT imaging.

An intriguing alternative radiochemistry involves the incorporation ofradiometals into metal nanocrystals. ¹⁹⁸Au has been incorporated intogold nanocrystals and used for imaging and biodistribution studies, and⁶⁴Cu has similarly been integrated into gold nanoalloys for PET imaging,which have superior radiostability to commonly used chelationchemistries. Due to its lower energy emissions compared to ¹⁹⁸Au and⁶⁴Cu, ¹⁹⁹Au is an isotope with better suited for SPECT.

Example 3 In Vivo Ratiometric Imaging with Activatable MultispectralDual-Radiolabeled Metallic Nanocrystals

In order to provide a nuclear alternative to optical imaging probes thatcan be activated in the presence of enzymes, a dual-radiolabeled goldnanoparticle SPECT probe was recently designed targeting MMP9.Multispectral imaging was performed, accumulation in tumors wasobserved, and evidence of activation was observed in vitro and in vivo.

One of the necessary properties of the dual-radiolabeled probes isspectral distinction between the two nuclides. While comprehensivestudies have been performed incorporating ¹⁹⁸Au into gold nanocrystals,this nuclide's 412 keV γ-emission is too energetic for optimal functionin SPECT imaging. Therefore, ¹⁹⁹Au was explored as an alternativeisotope. In order to determine if the 159 keV γ emission from ¹⁹⁹Aucould be spectrally separated from the 171 and 240 keV γ emissions from¹¹¹In, a multispectral SPECT imaging experiment was performed. In thisinitial experiment, phantoms containing ¹⁹⁹Au and ¹¹¹In SPECT signalfrom phantoms containing ¹⁹⁹Au and ¹¹¹In was acquired simultaneouslyfrom two energy windows centered at 159 keV (red-yellow) and 240 keV(green). Importantly, signal was only detected in the 159 keV channelfrom ¹⁹⁹Au, and ¹¹¹In was detected most strongly in the 245 keV channel,with slight bleed over into the 159 keV channel due to its 171 keVemission.

Once the SPECT imaging properties of ¹⁹⁹Au were validated, goldnanocrystals containing ¹⁹⁹Au were synthesized through an aqueousreduction method adapted from that pioneered by Turkovich (FIG. 12).Citrate-¹⁹⁹AuNPs were synthesized according to the protocol that wasestablished in our laboratories in which 2 ml of 0.5 mM of NaAuCl4 and15 μl of ¹⁹⁹Au were mixed together, heated, and stirred until thesolution's temperature reached the boiling point. Then, 206 μl of 38.8mM of sodium citrate was added with continuous heating and stirring.After a few minutes the color of the solution transformed gradually frompale yellow to wine red color, an indication of the formation of goldnanocrystals. After 10 min, the solution was stirred at room temperaturefor 15 min. An LSPR maximum wavelength of 525 nm was observed withUV-Vis spectroscopy. Radio thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used tomeasure the yield of ¹⁹⁹Au contained in the gold nanocrystals, andconfirmed that greater than 96% of ¹⁹⁹Au was present in the nanocrystalform and there was undetectable free ¹⁹⁹Au in the suspension.

To compare the ¹²⁵I-labeled nanoprobe to the radioactive metalnanocrystal, two probes were synthesized: (1) a similarly pegylated¹²⁵I-labeled gold nanoparticle used in the recent study and (2) apegylated radioactive gold nanocrystal, where the nuclide is embeddeddirectly into a metal crystal structure that provides significantlyenhanced in vivo stability. The two gold nanoparticle constructs wereinjected intratracheally into the lungs of mice and imaged immediatelyand then 3 and 24 hours later (FIG. 13). Clear differences in clearancewere observed between the two probes. Whereas there was no significantdecrease in uptake values of ¹⁹⁹Au-doped nanocrystals from the lung even24 hours after injection, a 76% decrease was observed with the¹²⁵I-labeled counterparts. These preliminary experiments providedevidence that a ¹⁹⁹Au-doped gold nanocrystal was a viable alternative tothe unstable ¹²⁵I-labeled gold nanoparticles.

Therefore, two dual radiolabeled nanoprobes were synthesized using the¹⁹⁹Au-doped gold nanocrystals as a core (FIG. 14). In one scheme (upperflow), the radioactive gold nanocrystals were surface functionalizedwith a polyethylene glycol conjugate (DTPA-pMMP9-PEG-SH). The moleculewas synthesized in a step wise fashion. First, a peptide (pMMP9; SEQ IDNO:1: DTPA-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys-NH₂) wasbuilt on solid support. Once cleaved from the resin, the peptide waslinked onto a PEG5000 through a DBCO-maleimide linker. Specifically, thethiol from the cysteine residue was reacted to maleimide to form athioether bond, leaving the DBCO functional group to react to an azideon a bifunctional azide-PEG-SH. Once synthesized, the PEG conjugatecontained (1) a DTPA moiety for ¹¹¹In chelation, (2) a peptide cleavedspecifically in the presence of MMP9, (3) a PEG5000 chain to stabilizethe gold NPs in aqueous conditions, and (4) a thiol endgroup foranchorage to the gold surface. In an alternative synthetic scheme (lowerflow), one based on a previous design, the ¹⁹⁹Au-containing gold NPswere simultaneously incubated with both mPEG-SH and DTPA-pMMP9 to form amixed surface coating. After surface functionalization, the NPs wereincubated with ¹¹¹In in an acidic buffer to chelate to DTPA functionalgroups on the outer end of the PEG, which was confirmed by radio TLC.

Aqueous solutions containing the multispectral probe and controls of theindividual ¹⁹⁹Au and ¹¹¹In nuclides were imagined with single photonemission computed tomography (SPECT) using two distinct energy windowsof acquisition, 159±11 keV (red) and 245±60 keV (blue) γ signal wasdetected from the dual-labeled metal nanocrystal in both channels,making the merged image of this solution appear purple. The ¹⁹⁹Aucontrol was only detected in the 159 keV channel, remaining red in themerged image. Since ¹¹¹In is characterized by γ emissions at both 171keV and 245 keV, signal was detected in both channels and thus appearspurple in the merged image. One of the goals of this study was to usethe 2 channels to distinctly quantify concentrations of ¹⁹⁹Au and ¹¹¹In,and since ¹¹¹In provides signal in both channels, image processing wasperformed in order to subtract 171 keV ¹¹¹In signal from the 159 keVimaging channel to make the remaining signal representative of ¹⁹⁹Auconcentration. Importantly, a simple linear relationship was observedbetween ¹¹¹In concentration and signal detected in the 245 keV channel.Therefore an ¹¹¹In concentration could be quantified from the 245 keVchannel, and then a proportional amount of signal could be subtractedfrom the 159 keV channel to determine ¹⁹⁹Au concentration. Once thisanalysis was performed, the dual-nuclide sample, the ¹⁹⁹Au control, andthe ¹¹¹In control appear purple, red, and blue, respectively (FIG. 15).

The dual-radiolabeled nanocrystals were then explored asenzyme-activatable nuclear contrast agents. Simply, the concept involvesthe tethering of 2 distinct nuclear emitters which are cleaved from oneanother in the presence of an enzyme, leading to their spatialseparation over time. In this instance, a ¹⁹⁹Au-containing gold NP isseparated from ¹¹¹In with a peptide cleaved in the presence of MMP9. Toexplore the use of the multispectral dual-radiolabeled metallicnanocrystals for in vivo ratiometric imaging, suspensions wereintratracheally injected into the lungs of mice and imaged over a 96hour time period (FIG. 16). Standardized uptake values (SUVs) in lungswere quantified in both the 159 keV and 245 keV channels, and a clearchange in ratiometric signal was observed over time. Immediately uponinjection, strong signal from both of the imaging channels was detected,giving a [SUV]Au199/[SUV]In¹¹¹ ratio of 0.32±0.04 (upper panels),represented by the purple lungs in the merged window image, whichincreased to a ratio of 0.85±0.47 5 hours later. By 24 hours, the ratiohad increased to 3.15±0.26, and remained at 3.34±1.05 96 hours afterinjection (lower panels), represented by the mostly red lungs in themerged energy window.

To interrogate the specificity of the change in ratiometric signal, anexperiment was performed wherein the dual-labeled nanocrystal wasincubated with MMP9 and then injected into the lung of mice (FIG. 17).Importantly, clear differences were observed between samples that hadbeen incubated with MMP9 compared to those that had not. Morespecifically, the [SUV]Au¹⁹⁹/[SUV]In¹¹¹ was significantly enhanced inthe lungs of mice injected with pre-incubated probes at all imaging timepoints compared to control. Whereas the average pixel ratio in the MMP9lung was 4.3 directly upon injection, the control had a value of 2.5.The contrast dramatically increased 2 hours later, where the MMP9 lungratio increased to 8.6 but the control remained steady at 1.8. Bothconditions moderately increased ratio (associated with preferentialclearance of ¹¹¹In compared to ¹⁹⁹Au) over the course of 24 hours,represented in FIG. 17 by a preferential loss of 245 keV emission (blue)and an increased ratio intensity in the MMP9+ lungs compared tocontrols. 24 hours after injection, the MMP9 lung reached an averageratio value of 21.3 compared to a control ratio value of 9.9 (FIG. 17,final panel). The lungs were excised and gamma emission spectra wereacquired in a Ge detector, and a 34% enhancement in the 159 keV/245 keVratio was observed in MMP9 lungs compared to control (data not shown).

To further validate the specificity of the activation, an identicalexperiment as the one just described was performed with an ¹¹¹In-labelednon-radioactive gold nanoparticle probe, similar to a radioactivenanoparticle previously reported. An initial in vitro validation wasperformed; when incubated with MMP9 for 48 hours, 48% ¹¹¹In was cleavedfrom the nanoparticle compared to only 16% without MMP9. With thissingly-labeled probe, an alternative in vivo ratiometric imagingapproach was performed (FIG. 18A). Rather than compare the ratio betweentwo gamma energy channels, uptake intensity ratios between the lungs andkidneys or bladder were quantified. Importantly, clear distinctions wereobserved between the MMP9 and control groups. Immediately uponinjection, uptake in the kidneys and bladders of the mice in the MMP9group was significantly higher than controls, providing enhancedkidney/lung and bladder/lung ratios of 0.12±0.04 and 0.56±0.24,respectively, compared to control ratio values of 0.01±0.004 and0.08±0.04 (FIG. 18B). Differences were also observed 5 hours afterinjection (FIG. 18C), where the bladder/lung ratio remained elevated inthe MMP9-incubated condition (0.19±0.15) compared to the control(0.03±0.003). 24 hours after injection, along with mucocilliaryclearance from the lung to the stomach and gastrointestinal system beingevident in both groups, overall ¹¹¹In clearance from the lung wasenhanced in the MMP9 group compared to control, both by SPECT uptakequantification (FIG. 18D) and ex vivo gamma counting.

The multispectral imaging also provided information about otherphysiological parameters. For example evidence for mucociliary clearancewas observed in all of the mice. In one particular example, 5 hoursafter injection, signal co-registered from both energy windows wasobserved in the mouth of mice and interestingly, 159 keV signal waspreferentially detected in the stomach compared to the 245 keV signal,and in contrast 245 keV signal was preferentially located in theintestines, implying cleavage of ¹¹¹In from the ¹⁹⁹Au-doped nanocrystalin the stomach after mucociliary clearance from the lung.

Discussion for Example 3

This study reports on the synthesis, characterization, and applicationof a nuclear activatable imaging probe that targets MMP9. Multiplechemistries were necessary in order to form the agent, ¹¹¹In-DTPAchelation, gold-thiol bonds, and metallic bonding provided the necessarystability in order to detect specific cleavage in the presence of MMP9.

The γ emission properties of the two isotopes were also sufficient toprovide two-channel ratiometric imaging in mice lung. The 245 keVchannel detected only the 240 keV emission from ¹¹¹In, whereas the 159keV channel detected the 159 keV emission for ¹⁹⁹Au as well as the 171keV and downscatter from ¹¹¹In. While there was significant “bleed over”¹¹¹In signal into the lower energy window, it could be corrected basedon the pure ¹¹¹In 245 keV channel. With this simple correction, ratioscould be quantified at every pixel in the 3D SPECT image andrepresentative on an intensity scale (FIG. 16 and FIG. 17). This allowedfor in vivo ratiometric imaging of the lung to interrogate activation byMMP9.

Ratiometric organ imaging was also performed and also providedquantitative evidence for activation of the probe by MMP9.

Both 2 channel ratiometric imaging and organ ratiometric imagingprovided clear evidence of probe activation by MMP9.

This value of λmax of radioactive-Citrate gold nanoparticles was longerthan λmax of non-radioactive gold nanoparticles by only 5 nm. Theresults of Graber et al. (1995) showed that the non-radioactivecitrate-gold nanoparticles have have λmax of 520 nm and have core sizeof 13 nm. In the present work, radioactive-Citrate ¹⁹⁹AuNPs have λmax of525 nm. This result indicates that the size of radioactive goldnanoparticles is still less than 15 nm.

The ¹⁹⁹Au-doped nanocrystals have promise in more than lungadministration applications. As a proof of concept experiment, asuspension was injected via the tail vein of mice.

Methods for Example 3 Materials and Methods for Producing RadioactiveCitrate ¹⁹⁹Au Nanoparticles

Chemicals.

All chemicals were research grade unless otherwise stated. Sodiumcitrate and Ethyl Acetate were obtained from Fisher Scientific Company,Sodium tetrachloroaurate (NaAuCl4) (99.999%) was purchased from SigmaAldrich Company. Enriched 95.83% Platinum-198 metal powder used toproduce ¹⁹⁹Au was obtained from Trace Sciences (Ontario, Canada).

Measurements.

The absorption measurement for nanoparticles was performed on an. Theyield of radioactive gold nanoparticles was measured using cellulosepaper developed in methanol containing two drops of concentrated HCl.The TLCs were measured via a carrier-free ¹⁹⁹Au production. Enriched¹⁹⁸Pt metal powder targets encapsulated in quartz ampoules wereirradiated with neutrons to produce ¹⁹⁹Pt according to the nuclearequation Pt-198(n,γ) Pt-199 which rapidly decays by β-emission to ¹⁹⁹Au.Specifically, 1.76 mg of enriched Pt metal powder was irradiated for152.11 hr in the high flux position at the Missouri University ResearchReactor (MURR). Initial activity of Pt/¹⁹⁹Au was 115.6 mCi. Then thematerial was dissolved in 400 μL of aqua regia. To this 400 μL of 0.05MHCl was added twice and heated to azeotrope off nitric acid. The finalvolume was 400 μL of 3M HCl with a final activity of 104.3 mCi.

Pt/Au-199 separation was performed by liquid-liquid extraction. 400 μLof Pt/¹⁹⁹Au in 3M HCl were mixed with 400 μL of ethyl acetate andvortexed for 1 minute. After allowing sitting for 5 minutes at roomtemperature, the layers were separated. The top layer contained 76 mCiof carrier-free ¹⁹⁹Au in ethyl acetate. Quality control was performed byanalyzing a small aliquot of the separated ¹⁹⁹Au to 10 ml of 0.05M HClwith a High Purity Germanium spectrometer with Genie-2000 Procountsoftware. The ¹⁹⁹Au in ethyl acetate was dried to remove the ethylacetate. Next 400 μL of 0.05 M HCl was added 2 times and brought to neardryness. The material was brought to a final volume of 60 μL with H2Oand a total activity of 32 mCi. The radionuclidic purity of non-carrieradded ¹⁹⁹Au was measured using a High Purity Germanium detector withGenie-2000 Procount software.

Synthesis of Radioactive Citrate-¹⁹⁹AuNPs.

Gold nanocrystals containing ¹⁹⁹Au were synthesized using a citratereduction method. 2 ml of 0.5 mM NaAuCl4 was added to a V-bottom vial,followed by the addition of 15 μl of ¹⁹⁹Au (8.5 mCi). The mass of ¹⁹⁹Auis negligible and the volume of ¹⁹⁹Au that is mixed with NaAuCl4 isbased on the required activity of the final solution of nanoparticles.Next, the vial containing the solution of NaAuCl4 and ¹⁹⁹Au was stirredvigorously and continuously and brought to a boil (99-100° C.). When thesolution's temperature reached the boiling point, 206 μl of 38.8 mMsodium citrate was added to the solution. This resulted in a gradualcolor change from pale yellow to greyish-blue to the expected wine redcolor. The boiling and stirring was continued for 10 minutes. Thesolution was then removed from heat and stirring was continued at roomtemperature for an additional 15 minutes. The final color was wine redwhich indicates the formation of gold nanocrystals. The surface plasmonresonance of the resulting solution of radioactive gold nanocrystals wascharacterized by UV-Vis extinction spectroscopy using an Ocean OpticsUSB 2000. Radioactive thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed toestimate the yield of radioactive ¹⁹⁹Au gold nanocrystals. 1 μl ofnanoparticle suspension was deposited onto cellulose paper. After 5 min,the TLC plate was placed vertically in a developing chamber thatcontained 4 ml of methanol and two drops of concentrated HCL. Afterdeveloping the paper was removed from the chamber and left to dry forfive minutes, and then measured on a Bio Scan AR-2000radio-chromatographer to determine the radiochemical yield.

Pegylation.

In order to pegylate the surface of ¹⁹⁹Au-doped gold nanocrystals, 2.5mg mPEG-SH (MW5000) was dissolved in 1 mL of ultrapure water, added tothe 2 mL ¹⁹⁹Au-doped gold nanocrystal suspension, which was mixedovernight. Suspensions were centrifuged at 14.5 k g for 1.5 hours andthe supernatant was removed.

¹²⁵I-Labeled Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis.

Labeling was performed in a similar manner previously described.Briefly, 3 mL of 10 nm diameter citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticlesuspension (Sigma Aldrich; 6×10¹² particles/mL) was centrifuged at 20 kg force for 1.5 hours, and supernatant was removed. 300 μL of 0.5 mg/mlPEG-pMMP9 was added to the suspension and mixed overnight, centrifugedfor 1.5 hours at 20 k g, and the supernatant was decanted. 50 μL PBS wasadded and suspensions was transferred to an iodogen tube. 6 μL ¹²⁵I (636μCi) was added and the sample was periodically shaken gently for 1 hour.Radiochemical purity was confirmed by TLC.

Peptide (DTPA-pMMP9) Synthesis.

Standard Fmoc solid phase synthetic protocols were used to synthesizethe peptide containing the MMP9 substrate, tyrosine residue, DTPAchelator, and cysteine anchor (SEQ ID NO:1:DTPA-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Lys-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Ahx-Cys-NH₂). Briefly,amino acids were successively loaded onto rink amide resin (0.66 mmol/gresin) using a CEM Discover Liberty Microwave Peptide Synthesizer. Thepeptide was purified with a Gilson UV/Vis-152 high performance liquidchromatographer (HPLC) using a C18 preparation column. Molecular weightof 1648 g/mol was confirmed with matrix-assisted laser desorptionionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS).

Dual-Labeled Probe Synthesis.

1.2 mg of the DTPA-pMMP9-PEG-SH was dissolved in 1 mL ultrapure water,and then mixed with the 2 mL ¹⁹⁹Au gold NP suspension (6 mCi) overnight.To purify unbound PEG-pMMP9 and other precursors, the NP suspension wascentrifuged for 15 minutes at g force and supernatant was removed,leaving a 75 μL pellet containing 2.65 mCi. 200 μL 0.1 M NH4OAc (pH 5.5)was added to the pellet, followed by 4.88 μL ¹¹¹InCl (1.17 mCi), and thesample was incubated at 25° C. for 1.5 hours. Radiochemical purity wasquantified by thin layer chromatography (TLC).

Another dual-radiolabeled probe was synthesized from the¹⁹⁹Au-containing gold nanocrystals that uses a similar design to ananoparticle SPECT probe recently reported. Briefly, 2.2 mg mPEG-SH(MW=5000) and 1.0 mg of the DTPA-pMMP9 peptide were dissolved in 1 mLultrapure water and immediately added to the 2 mL radioactive goldnanocrystal suspension, vortexed vigorously, and then mixed at 25° C.for 8 hours. The suspension was centrifuged for 30 minutes at g-force,and the supernatant was removed. An aliquot containing 194 μCi 199Au wasdissolved in 100 μL of 0.1 M NH4OAc buffer (pH 5.5), and then 100 μCi¹¹¹InCl (0.31 μL) was added to the suspension, vortexed, and shaken at45° C. for 75 minutes.

Phantom Imaging.

Three distinct aqueous samples were imaged: (1) the dual labeled probedescribed above, diluted to 0.10 mCi ¹¹¹In and 0.23 mCi ¹⁹⁹Au in 1 mL,(2) 0.25 mCi ¹⁹⁹Au gold NPs suspended in 1 mL, and (3) 0.077 mCi ¹¹¹InClin 1 mL. Tubes were imaged with 24 projection scans (60 seconds perscan) in a NanoSPECT/CT (Bioscan, Inc., Washington, D.C.). Two energywindows were simultaneously acquired in order to detect both ¹¹¹In and¹⁹⁹Au; 240±60 keV was monitored to track ¹¹¹In, and 159±11 keV was usedto track ¹⁹⁹Au.

In Vivo SPECT/CT Imaging.

The Animal Studies Committee of the Washington University School ofMedicine approved these studies. C57BL/6J mice were obtained fromJackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, Me.) and housed in a barrier facility.50 μL of either ¹²⁵I-labeled gold NPs (500 μCi), ¹⁹⁹Au-containing goldNP (370 μCi), or dual radiolabeled gold nanoparticle suspension (˜0.18mCi ¹¹¹In and 0.41 mCi ¹⁹⁹Au) was injected intratracheally into mouselungs in two 25 μL doses one minute apart. SPECT/CT imaging wasperformed on the NanoSPECT/CT. As described in the SPECT phantom studymethods above, two energy windows centered at 240 keV and 159 keV weresimultaneously tracked in order to detect both ¹¹¹In and ¹⁹⁹Au,respectively. 24 projection scans (60 seconds per scan) were performedimmediately after injection, as well as 5 hours, 24 hours, and 96 hourslater. Lung standardized uptake values (SUVs) were quantified fromSPECT/CT images using Inveon Research Workspace software (Siemans).

MMP9 Experiment.

The dual-radiolabeled nanocrystal suspension was separated into 50 μLsamples containing 20 ng MMP9 and incubated at 37° C. for 9 hours (alongwith control that was incubated without MMP9). 50 μL (˜80 μCi ¹⁹⁹Au and40 μCi ¹¹¹In) was then intratracheally injected into C57 Black6 mice andtwo-channel SPECT imaging was performed as described above. In anotherexperiment, a similar protocol was performed with the non-radioactivegold NP core functionalized with an ¹¹¹In-labeled, MMP9-cleavablepeptide. Briefly, 10 mL of 10 nm diameter gold nanoparticles (SigmaAldrich) was centrifuged at 10 k g-force for 70 minutes, supernatant wasremoved, the pellet was resuspended in 1 mL of ultrapure watercontaining 2.2 mg mPEG-SH (MW=5000) and 1.0 mg pMMP9 peptide, and shakenovernight. Suspension was again centrifuged at 10 k g-force, supernatantremoved, and the pellet was resuspended in 500 μL 0.1 M NH4OAc buffer(pH 5.5). Then 15 μL ¹¹¹InCl (5.23 mCi) was added and shaken at 45° C.for 90 minutes. Suspension was centrifuged at 10 k g-force for 90minutes, supernatant removed, and the pellet containing 2.96 mCi wasresuspended in 500 μL buffer. 50 μL aliquots with or without 10 ng MMP9were prepared and shaken at 37° C. for 16 hours. 50 μL (˜230 μCi ¹¹¹In)was then intratracheally injected into C57 Black6 mice (n=4/group) andSPECT imaging was performed using the 245 keV channel immediately uponinjection and 5 and 24 hours later.

Introduction to Examples 4-10

There are many molecular processes involved in cancer progression. Thedevelopment of molecular therapies and imaging agents targeted todistinct pathological pathways has raised hope for early cancerdetection and individualized therapy. An important biomarker of canceris the diagnostic and prognostic family of proteases [1]. Although theyplay key roles in normal human physiology, their aberrant expression incancer results in many undesirable effects such as an increase in tumorproliferation, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. As a result, newtargeted therapies have been developed for specifically inhibiting theseenzymes in cancer patients. A particularly interesting biochemical eventis the migration of some proteases to unusual extracellular orintracellular spaces under pathological conditions, where they exerttheir cancer-supporting roles [2, 3]. In this regard, a combination ofquantitative detection of protein expression, localization, andfunctional status is required for accurate cancer diagnosis andassessment of response to therapy.

Clinically, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photonemission tomography (SPECT) are the molecular imaging techniques ofchoice because of their high sensitivity and whole-body quantitativeimaging capabilities [4]. Elegant methods have been developed to improvein vivo detection sensitivity of predictive enzymes by PET, includingthe use of [¹⁸F]fluorothymidine to report cell proliferation via theactivity of thymidine kinase-1 [5]. Despite the unique advantages ofthese nuclear imaging methods, their applications in molecular imaginghave been confined to receptor-targeted imaging of cancer [4] orindirect reporting of the functional status of proteases in vivo by useof radiolabeled inhibitors [6]. Currently, there are no nuclear imagingagents for assessing the functional status of intracellular proteases invivo.

Unlike PET, where all annihilation photons detected have the same energy(511 keV), which precludes simultaneous discrimination of multiple PETradionuclides from the same tracer, SPECT hasmultiradionuclide-resolving power. This is because the gamma camerasused in SPECT can acquire projection data simultaneously from two ormore radionuclides in separate energy windows with resolution exceedingthat of micro-PET [7]. In addition to differences in the emissionenergies, radionuclides amenable for SPECT imaging have sufficientlylong half-lives for timely transportation, and can be produced on sitevia generators. The long half-lives of commonly used SPECTradionuclides, such as ^(99m)Tc (t_(1/2), 6.02 h), ¹²³I (t_(1/2), 13.2h), 125I (t_(1/2), 59.4 days), and ¹¹¹In (t_(1/2), 2.8 days), make themsuitable for incorporation into slow clearing biomolecules such aspeptide conjugates, antibodies, and nanoparticles [8]. Thiscompatibility of the biological half-life of the bioconjugates with theradioactive half-life of the elements results in improved signal tobackground ratios. Conceptually, radio-labeling a protease substratewith two SPECT compatible radioisotopes that emit gamma rays atdifferent energies could provide a new approach for molecular imaging ofprotease activities via ratiometric SPECT imaging. For this approach tobe successful, gamma ray(s) of the chosen nuclides should have minimaloverlapping signal in the acceptance energy windows to minimize“crosstalk.” For practical reasons, this is not always achievable,leading to the use of radionuclides with significant crosstalk that mustbe removed in a quantifiable and reproducible manner. Another immediatechallenge is to ensure the dual radio-labeling of a single substrate forratio-SPECT imaging. In the proposed strategy, the selective hydrolysisof an amide bond by the targeted protease will result in the trapping ofone radionuclide in cells, while the other radionuclide is effluxed.

Based on these considerations, we have developed a molecular frameworkfor developing and using dual radionuclide-labeled SPECT imaging agentsfor the molecular imaging of aberrant intracellular or extracellularproteases. Determining therapeutic response can help identifynonresponders at early time points, giving an opportunity to apply analternative and potentially more effective treatment [9]. In this study,we demonstrated the application of the method by targeting intracellularexecutioner caspases responsible for induction of apoptosis, and thusare useful for monitoring the early response of tumors to treatment [10,11]. Two caspase-3 cleavable peptides were radiolabeled with differentSPECT radionuclides and evaluated in vitro and in vivo with single ordual SPECT isotopes, ¹²⁵I with ^(99m)Tc or ¹¹¹In. Acquisition parametersfor small animal NanoSPECT imaging were developed for real-timedual-isotope SPECT image analysis. Results demonstrate the potential ofusing multiradionuclide-resolving power of clinically useful SPECT fornoninvasively monitoring treatment response.

Example 4 Synthesis of Caspase-3 Containing Peptide Bio-Molecules forImaging Apoptosis

The primary consideration of the molecular design is to ensure that eachmolecule can be labeled with two energetically different SPECTradionuclides. Thus, the basic structural framework consists of apeptide substrate for the target protease and reactive motifs toselectively incorporate the radionuclides at opposite ends of thepeptides. Cleavage of the peptide substrate will alter thebiodistribution profiles of the ensuing fragments. By determining thekinetics of each radiative fragment following cleavage, a ratiometricSPECT technique can be developed to report the activity of targetenzymes. In this study, we designed molecular imaging probes that aresensitive to the activity of the executioner caspases (caspase-3/7).These caspases, which are upregulated in the early phase ofcaspase-mediated cell death, recognize and cleave the tetrapeptidemotif, DEVD (SEQ ID NO:2—aspartic acid-glutamic acid-valine-asparticacid). To illustrate the concept, we designed two molecular imagingagents, LS370 (SEQ ID NO:5) and LS734 (SEQ ID NO:6) (FIG. 19),containing this motif. Both peptides were prepared by modularsolid-phase synthesis. LS370, which contains only nine amino acidpeptide sequence, is a simple model of the dual radiolabeled molecularimaging agent for ratiometric SPECT. It consists of DEVD (SEQ ID NO:2)peptide flanked by a tyrosine group for ¹²⁵I labeling and -Lys-Gly-Cys-group for ^(99m)Tc labeling. The more elaborate analogue, LS734, wasdesigned to generate disparate molecular features upon enzyme cleavageto facilitate ratiometric SPECT data analysis. LS734 comprises 21 aminoacids and consists of three functional components: (a) a cellinternalizing (positively charged) amino acid sequence capable ofaccommodating stable ¹¹¹In[Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys-(DOTA)-NH₂—SEQ ID NO:3],(b) a caspase-3 cleavable DEVD (SEQ ID NO:2) peptide sequence, and (c) ahydrophobic peptide sequence containing Tyr group for labeling with ¹²⁵I(Ac-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala—SEQ ID NO:4). All the peptides wereobtained in high purity (>95%) by high-performance liquid chromatographyand characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Uponcleavage, LS734 is expected to dissociate into ¹²⁵I-labeled hydrophobicand ¹¹¹In-labeled hydrophilic fragments, with distinct biodistributionprofiles. Conceptually, the high disparity between the hydrophobic andthe positively charged hydrophilic peptide fragments ensures arelatively higher efflux rate of one of the fragments from cellsundergoing caspase-mediated apoptosis than the other component.Optimization of the biological transport profiles can be achieved byincorporating molecules that facilitate active efflux of one fragment.

Example 5 Radiochemistry

The achieved specific activities were as follows: [¹²⁵I]LS370, 40-50×10⁶MBq/mmol; [¹²⁵I]LS734, 6-10×10⁶ MBq/mmol; and [¹¹¹In]LS734, 12×10⁶MBq/mmol. The specific activity of [¹²⁵I]-[¹¹¹In]LS734 was 3×10⁶MBq/mmol. We also determined the specific activity of [^(99m)Tc]LS370from the purified [¹²⁵I]-[^(99m)Tc]LS370. Based on a specific activityof 50×10⁶ MBq/mmol of ¹²⁵I-LS370, the specific activity of ^(99m)Tc in[¹²⁵I]-[^(99m)Tc]LS370 was calculated. After 72 h of decay, 0.02% of^(99m)Tc remained, but this fraction did not have a significant impacton the ¹²⁵In counting window (15-75 keV). Based on the sum of the countsper minute (CPM) from fractions 10-12 and the counting efficiency (0.679CPM/DPM; see FIG. 25), the calculated specific activity of ^(99m)Tc in[¹²⁵I]-[^(99m)Tc]LS370 was 17×10¹⁰ MBq/mmol. This value is in goodagreement with the literature reported maximum specific activity of^(99m)Tc, which is ˜20×10¹⁰ MBq/mmol [15].

Example 6 Dual [¹²⁵I]-[¹¹¹In] Nuclide SPECT Imaging Phantom

The data were acquired in two energy windows, one at 30 keV of ¹²⁵I anda second encompassing the two high energy peaks of ¹¹¹In (171 and 245keV). The consequence of this dual-labeling strategy is that ¹²⁵Imeasurements are contaminated with ¹¹¹In activity due to overlap in theX-ray energy and contamination from down scatter. Based on the unmixingstrategy described in Methods for Examples 4-10, efficiency andcross-contamination factors were determined by scanning of thecalibration phantoms containing known activities of 125I and ¹¹¹In (FIG.20; Table 1 and Table 2). The 3D ROIs drawn on the entire ampoules andunmixed images were calculated by the arithmetic on the images, not fromthe ROI data.

TABLE 1 Total activity counts from calibration images (FIG. 20) afterunmixing ¹²⁵I and ¹¹¹In signals. Image ¹²⁵I ampoule ¹¹¹In ampoule ¹²⁵I21.3 2.25 ¹¹¹In 0.10 56.5

TABLE 2 Efficiency and cross-contamination factors. FactureMeasured/nominal Value e_(I) 21.29/76 0.280 e_(In) 56.47/87 0.650C_(In>I)  2.25/87 0.026 C_(I>In)  0.10/76 0.001 The efficiency valuesrepresent the calibrated activities measured in the iodine or indiumwindows divided by the known activity of the sample.

Example 7 Caspase-3 mediated hydrolysis

FIG. 21 shows that [¹²⁵I]LS370 eluted at 19.5 min, and in the presenceof caspase-3, the cleaved fragments eluted at 12.5 and 13 min. Thepresence of two radiolabeled peaks on the radiochromatogram suggests theformation of dimer caused by the expected oxidation of the thiol groupto form intermolecular disulfide bond. However, the dimer readilyconverts back to single molecules under the high reducing conditionssuch as used to prepare the ^(99m)Tc chelate. Kinetic analysis ofcaspase-3 activation with [¹²⁵I]LS370 using a radionuclide detector(radio-high-performance liquid chromatography) gave a K_(M) and k_(cat)of 15±3 1 μM and 1.02±0.06 M s⁻¹, respectively. These parameterscompared favorably with a standard caspase-3 substrate Ac-DEVD (SEQ IDNO:2)-pNA (K_(M)=11 μM and k_(cat)=2.4 M s⁻¹), demonstrating that theradiolabeled peptide was recognized by caspase-3.

Example 8 Cell-Uptake Assays

The goals of the cell-uptake studies were to (1) assess any changes inthe structure-activity relationship resulting from the modular andresponsive probe design and (2) evaluate the retention of the iodinecontaining hydrophobic peptide moiety in treated and untreated cells.Metastatic human breast MDA-MB-231 cells were used to evaluate whetherthe amino acid sequence modulation would enhance internalization, andhow the probe would respond (intracellular) postchemotherapy. In theuntreated cells, there was a higher uptake (P<0.001) of [¹²⁵I]LS734(3.6±0.5) than [¹²⁵I]LS370 (0.3±0.3) at 2 h postincubation at 37° C.(FIG. 22A). The same trend was observed with the treated cells. Theamount of iodinated fraction released by the untreated and treated cellsat 3 h (post 2 h incubation and removal of excess activity) was used asa measure of the efflux activity. The results showed that higher amountof activity was released from untreated cells compared to treated cellsthat had been incubated with [¹²⁵I]LS734 (P<0.001) (FIG. 22B).

Example 9 Biodistribution

The structure-activity relationship was evaluated in vivo by performinga tissue biodistribution study in naive (FIG. 26) and tumor-bearingBalb/c mice (FIG. 23). At 1 h, [¹²⁵I]LS734 circulated longer in blood ascompared to [¹²⁵I]LS370. The tumor/blood ratios for both [¹²⁵I]LS370 and[¹²⁵I]LS734 was 0.6±0.03. The tumor/muscle ratios were similar as wellbut higher than the tumor/blood ratios, [¹²⁵I]LS734 (2.2±0.1) and[¹²⁵I]LS370 (2.1±0.3). Thyroid uptake was 73±21 and 115±73 for[¹²⁵I]LS370 and [¹²⁵I]LS734, respectively.

Example 10 Dual-SPECT Imaging of Spontaneous Breast Tumor Mouse Modelafter Injection of [¹²⁵I]-[¹¹¹In]LS734

Based on the results obtained for the unmixing of ¹²⁵I and ¹¹¹Indetection windows in calibration phantoms, a proof-of-principle in vivoimaging study was performed using the dual radiolabeled[¹²⁵I]-[¹¹¹In]LS734 to determine the tumor response to therapy in aMMTV-PyMT transgenic mouse model of spontaneous breast cancer.Reconstruction of raw data from both the low- and high-energy collectionwindows demonstrated differential biodistribution of [¹²⁵I]-[¹¹¹In]LS734throughout the animal (FIG. 24). At early time points, high uptake of aniodinated moiety, resulting from the deiodination of the parentcompound, was observed in the thyroid glands. Rapid clearance of ¹¹¹Inpeptide conjugate was indicated by high activity in the kidneys andbladder. Sequential analysis by unmixing of the low-energy windowfurther differentiated the biodistribution of ¹²⁵I- and ¹¹¹In-labeledcompound and its fragments. Some tumor-independent proteolysis of thecompound is expected due to minor activity of caspases and proteases inother tissues, particularly the liver and the kidneys. Early clearanceof the ¹²⁵I-labeled moieties is evident by the relatively high signalfrom the gastrointestinal tract in the low-energy window (FIG. 24C).While the iodine containing component was designed to be hydrophobicupon cleavable and separation from the parent compound, the ¹¹¹Incontaining fraction was conceptualized to be hydrophilic followingseparation from the dual-labeled peptide. Although partial clearancefrom the liver was observed, the high signal from the kidneys andbladder demonstrated preferential renal to hepatobiliary clearance forthe ¹¹¹In containing fragments. SUV analysis of the drug-treated andsaline-treated tumors showed higher signal in the ¹¹¹In channel for thetreated (SUV, 2.21) as compared to untreated (SUV, 1.44) tumor. The SUVanalysis in the ¹²⁵I channel was also quantifiable but confounded bysystemic deiodination (treated SUV, 0.19 and saline-treated SUV, 0.21).The ex vivo biodistribution corroborated the in vivo image analysis(FIG. 27).

Discussion for Examples 4-10

In the preclinical arena, optical imaging has been used to report aplethora of molecular processes. With its diverse contrast mechanisms,optical imaging is amenable to high throughput screening, real-timefeedback, and highly sensitive detection schemes without the use ofionizing radiation or expensive imaging systems. A unique feature ofoptical imaging is the detection of the expression and the functionalstatus of proteases with high detection sensitivity using activatablereporter probes. Particularly, the commonly used Forster resonanceenergy transfer (FRET) method for imaging proteases is attractive forstudying the functional status of these enzymes because of the near-zerobackground fluorescence before enzyme activation, resulting in highdetection sensitivity and specificity [16-19]. Despite its enormouspotential to unravel the molecular basis of diseases in vivo, thelimited tissue penetration depth precludes using optical imagingtechniques for noninvasive imaging of deep-seated primary and metastatictumors.

Although radionuclide signal cannot be quenched or amplified in the samemanner as fluorescence activatable probes, direct readout of proteaseactivity can be achieved by ratiometric SPECT approach. To accomplishthis goal, we have designed a dual radionuclide-labeled molecular probeand a SPECT imaging approach for quantitative measurement of proteaseactivity. Our approach is versatile, with potential application indetermining the functional status of both intracellular andextracellular proteases. Using a caspase-3 cleavable peptide sequence,we demonstrated that the chemical scaffold on the molecules can be usedto alter the cellular internalization and efflux profile of thecompounds. For example, the presence of positively charged amino acidresidues in LS734 significantly enhanced cell internalization relativeto LS370. Further, the ratio of retained activity from the hydrophobicmoiety of ¹²⁵T-LS734 was higher in the treated cells in vitro versusnontreated cells.

Quantitative accuracy and statistical reconstruction for dual-SPECTisotopes was developed using the available NanoSPECT imagereconstruction software. The software design offers select options forthree parameters: background correction (in projection data) prior toreconstruction (low, medium, and high), number of iterations (fast,standard, and fine corresponding to 6, 9, and 21 ML-EM iterations), andthe pixel size (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mm). The standard parameters are lowbackground correction, 9 iterations, and 0.3 mm pixel size. Thereconstruction software for the NanoSPECT was evaluated at various scandurations (i.e., counting statistics) with various options within thereconstruction such as the background clean (BC), smooth projection(SP), and smooth volume (SV) using a uniform phantom. We demonstratedthat the different levels of background correction (low, medium, andhigh) did not make any difference in the image. Furthermore, the noiseproperties for these parameters were identical, as seen on the imagesusing the standard number of iterations (9) and the standard pixel size(0.3 mm; see FIG. 28). We postulated that the background subtraction wasneeded to be used in conjunction with the BC option to make adifference. We also observed that the BC option preserved the highestaccuracy since the mean ROT values at various scan durations matchclosely to the reference mean ROT value (i.e., value obtained from thehighest counting statistics) compared to the reconstruction with theother options. However, at the lowest counting statistics, the BC optionproduces the lowest accuracy. This is probably due to bias generatedfrom the background subtraction at low counts. In contrast, the defaultreconstruction with no additional option produces the highest accuracyat the lowest counting statistics compared to the rest. With regard tothe coefficient of variation (STD/mean) of the ROT values (FIG. 29), theBC option showed the highest variation as expected, whereas the SPoption depicts the lowest.

The pharmacokinetic profile in rodents demonstrated the differences inthe blood circulation and tissue retention of the bioconjugates.Proof-of-principle animal imaging was performed in the MMTV-PyMTtransgenic breast cancer model using the phantom validated customizedattenuation and gamma-energy deconvolution SPECT/CT protocols. Cellstudies demonstrated differences in the uptake of the dual radiotracerbetween the treated and nontreated groups. The iodine label was stablein the conditions used for the cell studies (FIG. 30). However, a keylimitation of compound design was the significant ¹²⁵I uptake in thethyroid tissue, most likely a function of normal as well as tumormediated physiologic deiodination caused by the labile carbon-iodinebond [20]. Tn designing the dual radiolabeled imaging agent, we expectedthat the intracellular caspase-3 cleavage of the multifunctionalmolecular agent would result in the trapping of the ¹²⁵I-labeledhydrophobic component, while the ¹¹¹In-labeled moiety will be cleared.Clearly, deiodination confounded accurate systemic data analysis. In the¹¹¹In channel, the SUV analysis of the drug- and saline-treated tumorsshowed higher signal for treated (2.21) versus untreated tumors (1.44).In spite of in vivo deiodination, quantitative ROT analysis of varioustissues in the ¹²⁵I channel was feasible using the described algorithm.The proof-of-principle animal study and the phantom studies have laidthe foundation for future noninvasive dual radionuclide SPECT studiesfor imaging intracellular protease activity in response to treatmentusing biostable imaging probes. We are currently designing imagingagents that better shield the radio-halogen from systemic enzymaticcleavage [21].

In conclusion, we developed a new approach for imaging protease activityin vivo via a ratiometric SPECT imaging strategy. The synthetic methodis modular, which facilitates adaptation of the method to monitor theactivities of other diagnostic proteases. Attenuation correctionparameters for image reconstruction and quantitative analyses wereoptimized using phantoms, and successfully implemented for multispectralSPECT image analysis. By modeling the crosstalk between radioisotopes,the SPECT method provides quantitative accuracy for determining theratios of each radionuclide. This strategy can potentially be adapted tocurrent clinical imaging systems to provide a direct measure ofdiagnostic molecular biomarkers of early response to therapy.

Methods for Examples 4-10

The chelator DOTA-tris(t-Bu ester) was purchased from Macro-cyclics(Dallas, Tex., USA). Acetic anhydride, N,N-diisopropylethyl-amine,trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), acetonitrile (ACN), piperidine, anisole, anddimethylformamide (DMF) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis,Mo., USA). All the Fmoc amino acids, hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), and2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate(HBTU) were purchased from AAPPtec (Louisville, Ky., USA). Na[¹²⁵I]Iodide was ordered from American Radiolabeled Chemicals, Inc. (St.Louis, Mo., USA), [¹¹¹In]InCl₃ was ordered from Nordion Inc. (Ottawa,ON, Canada), and ^(99m)Tc was obtained from MallinckrodtPharmaceuticals, St. Louis.

Radiochemistry:

¹²⁵I-Labeling-LS370 or LS734 (10 μg) was dissolved in 100 μL of 0.1 MTris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane-hydrochloride (Tris-HCl) buffer, pH7.6, and iodinated with 1.0 mCi Na ¹²⁵I, using 2 μg lodogen (Pierce,Rockford, Ill., USA). After 30 min, the reaction was stopped by removingthe supernatant to another vessel. Purification was performed by reversephase-high-performance liquid chromatography RP-HPLC) on the C18 column(Supelcosil ABZ₊PLUS, HPLC Column, 150×4.0 mm, 5 μm) with a gradient ofH₂O containing 0.1% TFA and ACN containing 0.1% TFA for 30 min at a flowrate of 1 mL/min. The quality control (QC) testing of the radiochemicalpurity was done by RP-HPLC on the C18 column (Alltima HP, HPLC ColumnC18, 3μ, 53×7 mm) with the gradient elution with H₂O containing 0.1% TFAand ACN containing 0.1% TFA for 8 minutes at a flow rate of 2.5 mL/min.Radioactivity of each fraction was determined by γ-counting. ¹²⁵I-LS734eluted at 12.5 min and ¹²⁵I-LS370 eluted at 12 min. The radiochemicalpurities of peptides used in this study was >95%.

¹¹¹Indium Labeling of LS734:

LS734 (20 μg) in 0.1 M acetic acid (300 μL) was added to ¹¹¹In (2 mCi)in 0.02 M HCl (100 μL), and the mixture was incubated for 30 min at roomtemperature. The reaction was applied to RP-HPLC in 0.1% TFA andpurified by chromatography on a C18 reverse phase column (Waters,Milford, Mass., USA). ¹¹¹In-LS734 was obtained by linear gradientelution consisting of solvent A (0.1% TFA in water) and B (0.1% TFA inACN) (1 mL/min flow rate, 30 min). Radioactivity of each fraction wasdetermined by γ-counting. The radiochemical purity by HPLC was >95%.

Dual ¹²⁵I/^(99m)Tc-Labeling: To synthesize the dual-labeled¹²⁵I/^(99m)Tc-LS370, the HPLC purified ¹²⁵I-LS370 was incubated with^(99m)Tc-glucoheptonate in ethanol/saline (9:1) at room temperature. Theprogress of the reaction was monitored via a radio-TLC scanner usingwater as eluent. While the dual labeled ¹²⁵I/^(99m)Tc-LS370 probe wasfound to be retained at the origin, the excess ^(99m)Tc-glucoheptonateeluted with the solvent front. A mobile eluent mixture ofmethanol/saline/TFA (90:8:2) and radio-TLC scanner was used to confirmthe absence of any ^(99m)Tc oxides in the dual labeled peptide. Thepeptide eluted with the solvent front under these conditions withoutsignificant retention at the origin, indicating completion of ligandexchange reaction and lack of any ^(99m)Tc oxides in the preparation.Following the completion of the ligand-exchange reaction, thedual-labeled ¹²⁵I/^(99m)Tc-LS370 probe was further purified on HPLCsystem equipped with the radio-detector and C-18 column. While theexcess ^(99m)Tc-glucoheptonate eluted with the injection front, thedual-labeled ¹²⁵I/^(99m)Tc-LS370 peptide showed retention times that areabout 2 min faster than the single labeled ¹²⁵I-LS370 peptide alone.Additionally, the formation of the dual-labeled probe was also confirmedusing the nanoSPECT. Finally, appropriate fractions of the dual labeled¹²⁵I-^(99m)Tc-LS370 were collected and reconfirmed via radio-TLC.Radiochemical purity was >98%.

Dual ¹²⁵I/¹¹¹In-Labeling:

LS734 (20 μg) was dissolved in Tris-HCl buffer (0.1 M, 100 μL, pH 7.6)and iodinated with Na ¹²⁵I (2.0 mCi) using 2 μg lodogen (Pierce,Rockford, Ill., USA). After 30 min, the reaction was stopped bytransferring the solution into another tube. QC was performed on¹²⁵I-LS734 (5 μL) by radio-HPLC. For the subsequent ¹¹¹In labeling,acetic acid (400 μL, 0.1 M) and ¹¹¹In (10 μL, 2 mCi) in HCl (0.02 M) wasadded to the iodinated fraction and the mixture was incubated for 30 minat room temperature. After reaction, the mixture was purified by RP-HPLCon a C18 column (Waters, Milford, Mass., USA). ¹²⁵I-¹¹¹In-LS734 wasobtained and purified by linear gradient elution consisting of solvent A(0.1% TFA in water) and B (0.1% TFA in ACN) (1 mL/min flow rate, 30min). Eluted fractions (500 μL) were collected into tubes. Radioactivityof each fraction was determined by γ-counting. The final productwas >95% pure.

The achieved specific activities were: ¹²⁵I-LS370: 40-50×10⁶ MBq/mmol,¹²⁵I-LS734: 6-10×10⁶ MBq/mmol, ¹¹¹In-LS734: 12×10⁶ MBq/mmol. Thespecific activity of ¹²⁵I-¹¹¹In-LS734 was 3×10⁶ MBq/mmol. We alsodetermined the specific activity of ^(99m)Tc-LS370 from the purified¹²⁵I-^(99m)Tc-LS370. Based on a specific activity of 50×10⁶ MBq/mmol of¹²⁵I-LS370, the specific activity of ^(99m)Tc in ¹²⁵I-^(99m)Tc-LS370 wascalculated. After 72 h of decay, 0.02% of ^(99m)Tc remained but thisfraction did not have a significant impact on the ¹²⁵I counting window(15-75 keV). Based on the sum of the counts per minute (CPM) fromfractions 10-12 and the counting efficiency (0.679 CPM/DPM; see FIG.25), the calculated specific activity of ^(99m)Tc in ¹²⁵I-^(99m)Tc-LS370was 17×10¹⁰ MBq/mmol. This value is in good agreement with theliterature reported maximum specific activity of ^(99m)Tc, which is˜20×10¹⁰ MBq/mmol¹⁷.

Caspase-3 Mediated Hydrolysis of [¹²⁵I]LS370:

[¹²⁵I]LS370 was dissolved in caspase buffer {100 mM NaCl, 50 mM4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid, 10 mM DTT, 1 mMethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 10% glycerol, and 0.1%3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate, pH 7.4} atconcentrations varying from 2.5 to 20 μM. Caspase-3 (Cal Biochem) wasadded to the radioactive peptide solution at a final concentration of290 pM. These solutions were allowed to react at 37° C. for 180 min andwere sampled every 30 min. Substrate hydrolysis was monitored byradio-high-performance liquid chromatography (Vydac, C-18, 4.6×250 mm, 1ml/m, A=H₂O, 0.1% TFA, B=ACN, 0.1% TFA; 10-90% B, 30 min, lineargradient) of these time point samples. Comparison to a standardcaspase-3 substrate (Ac-DEVD-pNA) and calculation of the enzyme kineticparameters were carried out as previously described [12].

Cell Culture:

All cell handling was aseptically performed in a laminar flow hood.4T1/luc murine breast cancer cells were purchased from Sibtech(Brookfield, Conn.) and MDA-MB-231 human mammary gland/breast cancercells were purchased from the American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC)and were grown until 60-75% confluence in T75 tissue culture flasks. Thecells were grown in Dulbeccos's Modified Eagles Medium (GIBCO-BRL) with10% fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin/streptomycin at 37° C. in ahumidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ in a Revco Elite II incubator. Todetermine cell density, equal amounts of cell suspension and trypan blueexclusion were added to a hemocytometer to calculate a cells/mLconcentration and ensure cell viability.

Cell Uptake and Efflux Studies with [¹²⁵I]LS734 or [¹²⁵I]LS370:

MDA-MB-231 cells used for the uptake and efflux assay were grown on24-well tissue culture plates until they were 80-90% confluent with−250,000 cells per well. A two-component chemotherapeutic regimen wasused that has been shown to initiate apoptosis in breast cancer cellsand xenografts [13, 14]. The experimental treatment group of cells wastreated with 10 ng/ml of SN-38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin, SigmaAldrich) for 24 h. Then, the SN-38 was removed, and the secondchemotherapeutic drug, UCN-01 (Sigma Aldrich), was introduced at aconcentration of 1 tM in 0.1% BSA per well. At this point, respectiveradioactive solutions ([¹²⁵I]L5734 or [¹²⁵I]LS370, 0.02 μg per well;specific activities: [¹²⁵I]LS370-40×10⁶ MBq/mmol; [¹²⁵I]LS734-10×10⁶MBq/mmol) were added to treated and control groups. The solutions wereadded drop-wise into the wells and gently mixed to ensure homogeneousdistribution. The final volume per well was 240 μl, and the plates wereincubated at 37° C. (5% CO₂) for 2 h. After incubation, the supernatant(fraction 1) was collected, and the cells were washed twice with 250 μlof cold serum-free media. The washed cells were incubated again for 1 hin serum-free media at 37° C. (5% CO₂), and at 1 h, the supernatant wascollected (fraction 2). Fraction 2 represents the cell efflux, which isthe amount of radioactivity released from cells after the 2 h uptake.After collecting the supernatant, Solvable (Perkin Elmer) was added tofacilitate efficient scraping of the cells. The scraped cells (fraction3) were collected in microfuge tubes. The radioactivity in each fractionwas measured in a well counter (Packard II gamma counter).

Animal Biodistribution Studies:

All animal studies were conducted according to guidelines on the humanecare and use of laboratory animals under protocols approved by theAnimal Studies Committee at Washington University School of Medicine.For tissue biodistribution studies, syngeneic breast tumor models wereprepared via bilateral orthotopic implantation of luciferase-transfected4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma cells (4T1luc, 5×10⁵ cells per tumor) in themammary fat pads of 6-week-old, female Balb/c mice (NCI, Frederick, Md.,USA). Studies were conducted when the tumors reached about 3 mm maximumdiameter (−10 days). Healthy female Balb/c mice (n=4 per time point)were anesthetized with 1-2% vaporized isoflurane and injected via tailvein with 0.185 MBq of [¹²⁵I]LS370 or [¹²⁵I]L5734 (specific activities:[¹²⁵I]LS370-40×10⁶MBq/mmol; [¹²⁵I]LS734-10×10⁶MBq/mmol). At 1 h postinjection, mice were killed. Organs of interest were removed and blotteddry. The radioactivity was measured in a gamma counter (Packard II gammacounter). Diluted standard doses (1:100) were prepared and counted alongwith the samples. Data points were corrected for radioactive decay. Thepercent injected dose per gram of tissue (% ID/g) was calculated.

Dual ¹²⁵I-¹¹¹In Nuclides SPECT Imaging Phantom and Animal Imaging:

Phantom studies were designed based on the half-life decay of ¹²⁵I[t_(1/2)=59.4 days; X-ray: −27.3 keV (145.2%)] and 111In [t_(1/2)=2.8days; X-ray, −23 keV (82.5%) and γ-ray, 171 keV (90.6%), 245 keV(94.1%)]. The data were acquired in two energy windows, a low-energywindow for ¹²⁵I (25.2-30.8 keV) and a second encompassing the two highenergy peaks of ¹¹¹In (140-260 keV) using the NanoSPECT/CT system(Bioscan). As a consequence of this dual-labeling strategy, ¹²⁵Imeasurements were contaminated with ¹¹¹In activity due to overlap in theX-ray energy and contamination from down scatter (photons emitted by thehigher energy isotope in the energy window of the lower energy isotope).Therefore, a strategy for unmixing of the overlapping gamma ray energysignals was formulated. An unmixing strategy based on the makeup ofsignals in each collection window (M_(I) and M_(In)) was developed:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{M_{I} = {{e_{I}\lbrack I\rbrack} + {e_{InX}\left\lbrack {I\; n} \right\rbrack} + {{C_{{In}\; 9I}\lbrack{In}\rbrack}\mspace{14mu} {and}\mspace{14mu} M_{In}}}} \\{= {{e_{In}\lbrack{In}\rbrack} + C_{I\; 9\; {In}}}}\end{matrix} & (1)\end{matrix}$

with e_(I) and e_(In) representing the detection efficiencies for ¹²⁵Iand ¹¹¹In in their respective window and e_(InX) the efficiency fordetecting the indium X-rays in the ¹²⁵In window. C_(In>I) and C_(I>In)are the cross-talk contamination factors from ¹¹¹In into the ¹²⁵I windowand from ¹²⁵I into the ¹¹¹In window. Under these conditions, e_(InX)cannot be separated from C_(In>I), C_(I>In) should be small. C_(In>I) isthe sum from the down scatter from the 171 and 245 keV gamma rays andX-rays efficiency of ¹¹¹In in the ¹²⁵I window. Therefore:

$\begin{matrix}{\lbrack{In}\rbrack = {{\left( {{e_{I}M_{In}} - {C_{I\; 9{In}}M_{I}}} \right)/\left( {{e_{I}e_{In}} - {C_{I\; 9{In}}C_{{In}\; 9\; I}}} \right)}\mspace{14mu} {{and}\mspace{14mu}\lbrack I\rbrack}}} \\{= {\left( {M_{I} - {C_{{In}\; 9I}M_{In}}} \right)/e_{I}}}\end{matrix}$

The phantoms were made of two ampoules containing a calibrated amount of¹¹¹In (87 μCi) and ¹²⁵I (76 μCi). The three-dimensional (3D)regions-of-interest (ROIs) were drawn to encompass the entire ampoules.

Dual-Isotope SPECT/CT Imaging in Spontaneous Breast Cancer Model:

The MMTV-PyMT transgenic mice carrying the polyoma middle T oncogenedriver by the MMTV promoter in the FVB background were bred in house(15). The animal model recapitulates the human condition of early breasttumor-genesis including complex interactions of immune cells within thetumor, and multifocal lesions throughout the mammary tissue¹⁹.Multifocal tumors enabled internal controls as treated and untreatedtumors within the same animal. For the proof-of-principle small animalnanoSPECT imaging study, a 12 week old MMTV-PyMT female mouse was usedwhen the bilateral tumors were palpable and greater than 3 mm diameter.

The left pectoral mammary tumor was injected intratumorally withbromopyruvate (150 μL, 1.75 μM), an inhibitor of GDPH¹⁶. Thecontralateral tumor was injected with saline. At 24 h afterbromopyruvate injection, the mouse was injected intravenously with dualradiolabeled ¹²⁵I-¹¹¹ In-LS734 (500 μCi) and imaged with nanoSPECT 4 hpost-injection. SPECT scans were performed using 16 projections, 180 sper projection. Reconstruction of SPECT and CT scans was performed usingin vivo scope software (Bioscan).

Data Analysis and Statistics:

All data are presented as mean±SD. For statistical classification, aStudent's t test (two-tailed, unpaired) was used to compare individualdatasets. All statistical analyses were performed using Prism software.P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

REFERENCES FOR EXAMPLE 4-10

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What is claimed is:
 1. A composition, the composition comprising: acleavable peptide and two distinct radionuclides, wherein theradionuclides are separated by a site susceptible to cleavage by anenzyme and can be spectrally differentiated.
 2. The composition of claim1, wherein the cleavable peptide comprises a caspase-3 sensitive site.3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the caspase-3 sensitive sitecomprises SEQ ID NO:2 (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp).
 4. The composition of claim 1,wherein the cleavable peptide comprises a hydrophobic amino acidsequence and a hydrophilic amino acid sequence separated by a sitesusceptible to cleavage.
 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein thehydrophobic amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:4(Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala).
 6. The composition of claim 4, whereinthe hydrophilic amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:3(Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys).
 7. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein one of the radionuclides is conjugated to a Tyr residuefound in the cleavable peptide.
 8. The composition of claim 7, whereinthe radionuclide is ¹²⁵I.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein one ofthe radionuclides is conjugated to a chelating agent coupled to thecleavable peptide.
 10. The composition of claim 9, wherein theradionuclide is ¹¹¹In.
 11. The composition of claim 1, wherein one ofthe radionuclides is conjugated to a -Lys-Gly-Cys- group found thecleavable peptide.
 12. The composition of claim 11, wherein theradionuclide is ^(99m)Tc.
 13. The composition of claim 1, wherein thepeptide comprises SEQ ID NO:5(Ahx-Tyr-Ahx-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Lys-Gly-Cys) or SEQ ID NO:6(Tyr-Leu-Ala-Ile-Ahx-Pro-Ala-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Orn-Arg-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys).14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the spectrally differentiatedradionuclides are ¹²⁵I and ^(99m)Tc or ¹²⁵I and ¹¹¹In.
 15. A method ofdetecting enzyme activity associated with a disease or condition in asubject, the method comprising: a) administering to the subject aneffective amount of a composition comprising: a cleavable peptide and afirst and second radionuclide, wherein the first and second radionuclideare separated by a site susceptible to cleavage by an enzyme and can bespectrally differentiated; b) imaging the subject for a signalcorresponding to the first and second radionuclide to determine thebiodistribution for the first and second radionuclide; and c) comparingthe biodistribution of the first radionuclide to the biodistribution ofthe second radionuclide, wherein when the biodistribution for the firstradionuclide differs from the biodistribution for the secondradionuclide, enzyme activity is detected.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the subject is imaged about 4 to about 48 hours afteradministration.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the subject isimaged using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the cleavable peptide comprises a caspase-3sensitive site.